To amend sections 5107.05, 5107.10, and 5107.20 of the Revised Code regarding the pass-through of support payments under the Ohio Works First program.
Summary
SB67 revises Ohio’s Ohio Works First (OWF) cash assistance program rules to change how child support and other support payments are handled for participating families. The bill requires the Department of Job and Family Services to adopt rules governing the collection and distribution of support owed to OWF participants, and it establishes a new pass-through amount that must be paid directly to the assistance group: $100 per month for a family with one minor child and $200 per month for a family with two or more minor children. Any remaining support collected on the family’s behalf would continue to be used to reimburse or fund OWF cash assistance.
The bill also specifies that the pass-through support amount is disregarded when determining both initial eligibility and ongoing eligibility for OWF, and when calculating the amount of cash assistance the family receives. In addition, the bill makes conforming changes to OWF eligibility and rulemaking provisions, including the department’s authority to define income calculations, participation requirements, sanctions, work activities, domestic violence screening, and other program administration details. The bill takes effect 18 months after the effective date of the act.
Impact
SB67 would amend sections 5107.05, 5107.10, and 5107.20 of the Revised Code to alter the treatment of support payments in the OWF program and to direct the Department of Job and Family Services to implement corresponding rules. It would create a statutory pass-through of support to participating families and require that those amounts be excluded from countable income for eligibility and benefit calculations. The bill would also preserve the state’s ability to collect and apply remaining support payments toward public assistance costs, while leaving broader OWF eligibility and administrative frameworks in place.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears neutral and policy-focused. The measure is framed as a technical but meaningful adjustment to how support payments are distributed within a public assistance program, suggesting an intent to increase direct aid to families while maintaining the existing OWF structure. No recorded opposition or support from committee discussion is available in the provided context.
Contention
The main policy issue is the size and treatment of the support pass-through: the bill guarantees a fixed monthly amount to families, while the remainder of collected support continues to offset assistance costs. Potential points of contention may include whether the pass-through amount is sufficient, whether disregarding it as income could affect program costs or incentives, and how the change interacts with federal child support and TANF-related requirements. Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, no specific legislators, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified as taking positions for or against the bill.
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