OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 352 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 352’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Baker and Carruthers
Effective Date:
Chenwei Zhang, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Establishes the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Commission.
 Requires the Study Commission to recommend legislative strategies to the General
Assembly for addressing the prevalence and effects of adverse childhood experiences.
 Requires the Study Commission to submit an annual report on recommendations for
possible legislation.
 Provides that the Study Commission ends after submitting its fourth annual report.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Commission
The bill establishes the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Commission, which is
tasked with recommending legislative strategies to the General Assembly for addressing the
prevalence and effects of adverse childhood experiences.
Under the bill, adverse childhood experiences are potentially traumatic events that
occur in childhood. They can include:
 Various forms of physical and emotional abuse;
 Neglect; and
 Household, environmental, or community dysfunction.1
1 R.C. 103.55(A) and (B).
May 24, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Membership and appointment procedures
The Study Commission consists of 26 members. The following members are to be
appointed by the Governor:
 One social worker or school counselor who has worked with children experiencing
violence, abuse, and neglect;
 One current or former law enforcement officer with experience in community violence
or domestic violence;
 One current or former judge who presides or presided over domestic relations or
juvenile proceedings;
 One psychologist;
 One pediatrician;
 Two individuals who have earned a doctoral degree in a social science field, are experts
on adverse childhood experiences, and are employed as a professor or researcher;
 One representative of the Department of Children and Youth;
 One certified crisis intervention specialist;
 One representative from the Children’s Trust Fund;
 One clinician who works in a residential facility that serves children with behavioral
health needs and has experience in trauma-informed care;
 Two individuals with lived experience in adverse childhood experiences or parents of
such an individual;
 One representative of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners or a successor
organization;
 One representative of the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities or a
successor organization;
 One mental health professional who serves infants or children up to five years of age;
and
 One representative of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services;
 One representative of the Ohio School Psychologists Association;
 One representative of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services
Providers;
 One representative of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio;
 One representative of the Department of Medicaid;
 One representative of a Medicaid managed care organization.
P a g e |2 H.B. 352
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
The remaining members include: two members from the Senate (one from each party),
both appointed by the Senate President, and two members from the House of Representatives
(one from each party), both appointed by the Speaker of the House.2
The bill requires initial appointments to the Study Commission to be made within
60 days of the bill’s effective date. Subsequent appointments are to be made within 30 days of
a vacancy. With each new General Assembly, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the
House must make new appointments to the Study Commission.3
Meetings and operation
The Study Commission must annually select from among its members a chairperson and
a vice-chairperson, by majority vote, as follows:
 In odd-numbered years, the chairperson must be a Study Commission member from the
Senate and the vice-chairperson must be a Study Commission member from the House
of Representatives.
 In even-numbered years, the chairperson must be a Study Commission member from
the House of Representatives and the vice-chairperson must be a Study Commission
member from the Senate.4
Members serve without compensation, except to the extent that serving on the Study
Commission is considered part of the member’s regular duties of employment.5
A majority of members constitutes a quorum to conduct Study Commission meetings.
The bill requires the Study Commission to (1) comply with Ohio’s open meetings and public
records laws and (2) abide by the House of Representatives and Senate rules that pertain to
decorum. Finally, the bill requires the General Assembly to provide meeting space, staff
services, and other technical assistance to the Study Commission.6
The bill requires the Study Commission to hold its first meeting within 60 days after
initial appointments are made. After that, the Study Commission must meet once quarterly.
The first meeting each year must be an organizational meeting to elect the chairperson and
vice-chairperson and to set a calendar for the rest of the year. During one meeting each year,
each member appointed by the Governor must present to the Study Committee information
relevant to the member’s area of experience, including suggestions for legislative approaches
to address the prevalence and effects of adverse childhood experiences.7
2 R.C. 103.55(C).
3 R.C. 103.55(D).
4 R.C. 103.55(E).
5 R.C. 103.55(F).
6 R.C. 103.55(G), (H), and (I).
7 R.C. 103.551.
P a g e |3 H.B. 352
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Annual reports
The bill requires the Study Commission to prepare an annual report summarizing
possible legislative strategies for addressing the prevalence and effects of adverse childhood
experiences.
The Study Commission must submit a copy of each report to the General Assembly. The
first report must be submitted within one year of the bill’s effective date and subsequent
reports are due annually thereafter. The Study Commission ends after submitting its fourth
annual report.8
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 12-04-23
Reported, H. Behavioral Health 05-08-24
Passed House (89-5) 05-22-24
ANHB0352PH-135/ar
8 R.C. 103.552.
P a g e |4 H.B. 352
As Passed by the House