(A) The department of administrative services shall do both of the following:

(1) Create a business reply form that is capable of containing information that a private business is required to provide to state agencies on a regular basis. The director of administrative services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code specifying the information that the form shall contain. Subject to division (E) of this section, state agencies shall use the business reply form to obtain information from private businesses.

(2) Create an on-line computer network system to allow private businesses to electronically file the business reply form.

In creating the business reply form described in division (A) (1) of this section, the director may consider the recommendations of interested parties from the small business community who have direct knowledge of and familiarity with the current state reporting requirements that apply to and the associated forms that are filed by small businesses.

(B) The director shall establish procedures by which state agencies may share the information that is collected through the form established under division (A) of this section. These procedures shall provide that information that has been designated as confidential by any state agency shall not be made available to the other state agencies having access to the business reply form.

(C) Not later than September 30, 1999, the director may report to the director of budget and management and to the committees that handle finance and the committees that handle state government affairs in the house of representatives and the senate on the progress of state agencies in complying with division (A)(1) of this section. The director may recommend a five per cent reduction in the future appropriations of any state agency that has failed to comply with that division without good cause.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "State agency" means the secretary of state, the department of job and family services regarding duties it performs pursuant to Title XLI [41] of the Revised Code, the bureau of workers' compensation, the department of administrative services, and any other state agency that elects to participate in the pilot program as provided in division (E) of this section.

(2) "Form" has the same meaning as in division (B) of section 125.91 of the Revised Code.

(E) The provisions of this section pertaining to the business reply form constitute a two-year pilot program. Not later than one year after January 21, 1998, the department of administrative services shall complete the planning and preparation that is necessary to implement the pilot program. The director of administrative services may request other state agencies, as defined in division (A) of section 125.91 of the Revised Code, to participate in the pilot program. If the director so requests, the state agency may participate in the program. The provisions of this section shall cease to have effect three years after January 21, 1998. Within ninety days after the completion of the pilot program, the director of administrative services shall report to the director of budget and management and the committees described in division (C) of this section on the effectiveness of the pilot program.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000.