(A) There is hereby established, as a work activity under Ohio works first, the subsidized employment program, under which private and government employers receive payments from appropriations to the department of job and family services for a portion of the costs of salaries, wages, and benefits those employers pay to or on behalf of employees who are participants of the subsidized employment program at the time of employment.

(B) The director of job and family services may redetermine rates of payments to employers under this section annually.

(C) A state agency or political subdivision may create or fill vacant full-time and part-time positions, including classified and unclassified positions for those positions that are included in the civil service under Chapter 124. of the Revised Code, for or with participants of the subsidized employment program. The director shall specify in rules adopted under section 5107.05 of the Revised Code the maximum amount of time the department will subsidize the positions. After the subsidy expires, the agency or subdivision may hire the participant for an unclassified position or as an employee in the classified civil service. The director of administrative services may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing this division.

(D) Participants of the subsidized employment program for whom payments are made under this section:

(1) Shall be considered regular employees of the employer, entitled to the same employment benefits and opportunities for advancement and affiliation with employee organizations that are available to other regular employees of the employer, and the employer shall pay premiums to the bureau of workers' compensation on account of employees for whom payments are made;

(2) Shall be paid at the same rate as other employees doing similar work for the employer.

(E) An agreement for employment of a subsidized employment program participant by a private employer shall require that the participant be given preference for any unsubsidized full-time position with the employer that becomes available after the participant completes any probationary or training period specified in the agreement.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000; 07-01-2007.