OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 512 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 512’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Pavliga
Effective date:
Amy L. Archer, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
▪ Requires the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council and key stakeholders to
develop placement and treatment solutions for children with developmental or
intellectual challenges and high acuity behaviors and to submit a report of the solutions
to the General Assembly.
▪ Requires the Department of Children and Youth (ODCY), in consultation with other state
agencies, to establish rules for a streamlined process for licensure of emergency
placement facilities for children.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Treatment and placement solutions for children
Development of solutions
The bill requires the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council to work with key
stakeholders to develop placement and treatment solutions for children with developmental or
intellectual challenges and high acuity behaviors, with particular focus on solutions aimed at
ensuring that no child will be required to sleep at a local government agency or wait in a hospital
with no access to treatment due to lack of appropriate placement or treatment. The key
stakeholders include the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, the Ohio Children’s
Hospital Association, the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers, the
Ohio Children’s Alliance, the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association, the Ohio
Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, the Ohio Association of County
Behavioral Health Authorities, and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.
Annual report
The Cabinet Council must report these solutions to the General Assembly for immediate
action within 12 months of the bill’s effective date. Additionally, the Cabinet Council must report
December 13, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
updated solutions every year thereafter. The report must be provided in accordance with
continuing law governing the submission of reports to the General Assembly.1
Licensure of emergency placement facilities
Rule adoption
The bill requires the Department of Children and Youth (ODCY), in consultation with the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), the Department of
Developmental Disabilities (ODODD), and any other agency ODJFS deems appropriate, to
establish in rules a streamlined process for licensure of emergency placement facilities. The rules
must, to the extent possible, use qualifications and processes of licenses issued by OhioMHAS,
ODCY, and ODODD that emergency placement applicants already hold. Further, the rules must
minimize duplicate efforts by applicants in applying for emergency placement facility licenses.
The rules must be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (R.C. Chapter
119) not later than six months after the bill becomes effective. A regulatory restriction adopted
by rule under the bill is exempt from the regulatory reduction requirements in continuing law.2
Facility specifications
All of the following apply to an emergency placement facility licensed under the bill:
▪ May accept a child for placement if the child is in the temporary or permanent custody of
a public children services agency or Title IV-E agency.
▪ Must complete an assessment of the child’s immediate needs within 72 hours of
placement.
▪ Cannot reject a placement request or discharge a placed child based on the child’s
behavior, treatment needs, or previous history.
▪ May reject a placement request due to capacity or staffing of the facility.
▪ Cannot accept a child for placement if the child’s immediately preceding placement was
at another emergency placement facility.3
Definitions
The bill defines the following terms:
▪ “Child” is an individual who is under 18 years of age or, if the individual has a physical or
mental impairment or mental or psychological disorder or condition, under 21 years of
age.
1 R.C. 121.377.
2 R.C. 5101.91(B) and (D).
3 R.C. 5101.91(C).
P a g e |2 H.B. 512
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
▪ “Emergency placement facility” is a stand-alone residential facility, or designated beds
within a residential facility, that provides immediate short-term placement of no longer
than 14 days for children as described in “Facility specifications” above.4
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-30-24
Reported, H. Families and Aging 06-12-24
Passed House (77-0) 12-11-24
anhb0512ph-135/ks
4 R.C. 5101.91(A).
P a g e |3 H.B. 512
As Passed by the House