OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 108 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 108’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Blessing
Effective date:
Chenwei Zhang, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Establishes and regulates scholars residential centers, defined as centers that meet
several characteristics, including certification by a national organization with a mission
to help underserved children in middle and high school.
 Requires the Director of Job and Family Services (JFS) to adopt rules to implement
standards for scholars residential centers and generally requires them to be
substantially similar to those governing other similarly situated providers of residential
care for children.
 Exempts the rules adopted under the bill from existing regulatory restriction reduction
requirements.
 Requires the JFS Director to certify a scholars residential center that submits an
application that indicates to the Director’s satisfaction that the center meets the
standards established in the rules adopted under the bill.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Scholars residential centers
The bill establishes and regulates scholars residential centers. A scholars residential
center (“center”) is defined in the bill as a center that:
 Is a certified affiliate in good standing of a national organization with a mission to help
underserved children in middle school and high school in a comprehensive manner that
is academically focused and service-oriented and in a family-like setting;
 Is private and not-for-profit;
April 23, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Does not receive Title IV-E funding or any associated Title IV funds related to child
welfare;1
 Only accepts children placed by their parents or legal custodian; and
 Is voluntary and uses a competitive selection process.2
Rulemaking authority
The bill requires the Director of Job and Family Services (JFS) to adopt rules in
accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code to implement center standards. Generally,
the rules must be substantially similar, as determined by the Director, to those governing other
similarly situated providers of residential care for children. This includes the rules provided in
Chapters 5101:2-5 (child services agency licensing rules) and 5101:2-9 (children’s residential
centers, group homes, and residential parenting facilities) of the Ohio Administrative Code.
However, the rules may differ from these existing rules in order to reflect all of the
following requirements:
 A center is not subject to any policy that is not specific or relevant to the center.
 A center is not required to provide discharge summaries.
 A center may request agency waivers.
 A center is not required to implement case plans or service plans.
 Training requirements for center staff are limited to completion of:
 Orientation training;
 Current American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent first aid and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (commonly known as “CPR”) certification; and
 One hour of annual trauma training.
 A center is not subject to existing rules regarding:
 Recreation and leisure activity requirements, provided that the center has a
recreation area available and permits children to swim if a person who has
completed life-saving or water safety training is present;
 Visiting and communications policies, provided that the center ensures that children
have contact with their family;
 Qualified residential treatment program requirements; and
1 Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides federal reimbursement for some of the maintenance,
administration, and training costs related to child welfare. 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 671-679b.
2 R.C. 5103.021(A).
P a g e |2 S.B. 108
As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Treatment-focused requirements for residential agencies.
 A center must provide notification and documentation of critical incidents to parents
and legal custodians.3
The bill exempts these rules from the regulatory restriction reduction requirements
under existing law.4
Certification of scholars residential centers
The bill requires the JFS Director to certify a center that submits an application that
indicates to the Director’s satisfaction that the center meets the standards established in the
adopted rules. The application form must be prescribed by the Director.5
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-18-23
ANSB0108IN-135/ec
3 R.C. 5103.021(B).
4 R.C. 5103.021(D); R.C. 121.95 to 121.953, not in the bill.
5 R.C. 5103.021(C).
P a g e |3 S.B. 108
As Introduced