(A) There is hereby created in the department of job and family services the Ohio family stability commission. The commission shall consist of four members of the general assembly and twenty-one individuals who are government agency representatives, private citizens, or elected officials other than members of the general assembly.

Of the general assembly members, two shall be appointed by the president of the senate, each from a different political party, and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, each from a different political party.

The remaining members shall be appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) Two with expertise in out-of-wedlock births;

(2) Two with expertise in marital divorce;

(3) One with expertise in education;

(4) One with expertise in employment;

(5) One with expertise in child support;

(6) One with expertise in child custody;

(7) One with expertise in child abuse and neglect;

(8) One with expertise in domestic violence;

(9) Two with expertise in the judicial system;

(10) Two with expertise in criminal justice;

(11) Two with expertise in faith-based initiatives;

(12) Two with expertise in fatherhood programs;

(13) Two with expertise in philanthropic or nonprofit management;

(14) One with expertise in mass media or communications.

Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Members shall serve without compensation, except to the extent that serving on the commission is considered part of their regular duties of employment.

(B) The commission shall be staffed by personnel of the department of job and family services. This division does not require the department to employ personnel the department otherwise would not have employed.

(C)

(1) During its first year of operation, the commission shall conduct research and formulate recommendations for consideration by the general assembly, appropriate state agencies, and other appropriate entities concerning societal issues that impact the stability of families in this state. The recommendations shall provide the general assembly, appropriate state agencies, and other appropriate entities with strategies, both legal and otherwise, for addressing the issues.

At a minimum, the commission's research and recommendations shall address all of the following:

(a) The divorce rate in this state and strategies for reducing the divorce rate;

(b) The birth rate among unmarried individuals in this state and strategies for reducing the number of births occurring outside of marriage;

(c) The rate of domestic violence, including child abuse, in this state and strategies for reducing that rate;

(d) Issues concerning child custody and child support.

(2) During its second year of operation, the commission shall advise the general assembly, appropriate state agencies, and other appropriate entities on ways to implement the recommendations formulated under division (C)(1) of this section.

(3) During its third year of operation, the commission shall continue to provide advice regarding implementation of the recommendations formulated under division (C)(1) of this section and begin monitoring implementation.

At the end of its third year of operation, the commission shall issue a report to the general assembly regarding the status of the implementation of the recommendations.

(4) During its fourth year of operation, the commission shall conduct activities to ensure continued implementation of the recommendations formulated under division (C)(1) of this section and, if applicable, enforcement of the recommendations.

At the end of its fourth year of operation, the commission shall issue a report to the general assembly regarding the status of the implementation of the recommendations.

Repealed by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 30, §2, eff. 4/1/2021.

Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 30, §1, eff. 3/21/2017.