OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 25 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 25’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Galonski and Somani
Effective Date:
Alyssa Bethel, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Creates the Ohio Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission and specifies
the membership, appointment terms, compensation, and duties of the Commission.
 Creates the Office of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs and specifies the
membership and duties of the Office.
 Makes an appropriation.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Ohio Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission
Membership
The bill creates the Ohio Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission. The
Commission is made up of the following members:
 Eleven members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate;
 Two nonvoting members who are members of the House of Representatives and
appointed by the Speaker of the House (one majority party member and one minority
party member);
 Two nonvoting members who are members of the Senate and appointed by the Senate
President (one majority party member and one minority party member).
February 22, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
For the members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker and President each must
recommend two members and the Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives and
Senate each must recommend one member to the Governor.1
Membership qualifications
The bill requires all 11 voting members to be U.S. citizens or lawful, permanent, resident
aliens, and from urban, suburban, and rural geographical areas representative of Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders with a numerical and geographical balance of the Asian-
American and Pacific Islander population throughout Ohio.2
Appointment terms
Under the bill, after the initial appointments, at the first organizational meeting of the
Commission, the 11 voting members must draw lots to determine the length of the members’
terms. Three members will serve for a term ending one year after the bill’s effective date, four
members will serve for a term ending two years after the bill’s effective date, and four
members will serve for a term ending three years after the bill’s effective date. After the initial
terms, each term is three years and will end on the same day of the same month of the year as
the term it succeeds. Members serve from the date of the member’s appointment until the end
of the term for which the members were appointed.
General Assembly members appointed to the Commission remain members of the
Commission only as long as the member is a General Assembly member.
Members must remain in office after the member’s term has expired until a successor
takes office or 60 days have passed since the end of a member’s term, whichever occurs first.
Vacancies for all members will be filled in the same manner as appointment. Any
member appointed to fill a vacancy must serve the remainder of the original term for which the
vacancy was filled.3
Meetings
The bill requires the Commission to meet not less than six times each calendar year. The
Commission must elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers from its voting
members. The Commission must adopt rules to govern the Commission’s procedures. Six voting
members constitute a quorum and no action is valid without the concurrence of six members. 4
1 R.C. 121.34(A) and (C).
2 R.C. 121.34(D).
3 R.C. 121.34(C).
4 R.C. 121.34(E).
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As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Compensation
The bill specifies that voting members will be compensated for each day that the
member is actually engaged in the performance of work as a member, in an amount
determined by the Director of Administrative Services, but not to exceed one day per month.
Additionally, each voting member will be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of official business.5
Duties
The bill specifies the following duties of the Commission:6
 Gather and disseminate information and conduct hearings, conferences, investigations,
and special studies on problems and programs concerning Asian-Americans and Pacific
Islanders;
 Secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments and contributions of Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders to Ohio;
 Stimulate public awareness of the problems of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders by
conducting a program of public education;
 Develop, coordinate, and assist other public and private organizations that serve Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders, including conducting training programs for community
leadership and service project staff;
 Advise the Governor, General Assembly, and state departments and agencies regarding
the nature, magnitude, and priorities of the problems of Asian-Americans and Pacific
Islanders;
 Advise the Governor, General Assembly, and state departments and agencies on, and
assist in the development and implementation of, comprehensive and coordinated
policies, programs, and procedures focusing on the special problems and needs of
Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, especially in the fields of education, employment,
energy, health, housing, welfare, and recreation;
 Propose new programs concerning Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to public and
private agencies and evaluate for those agencies existing programs or prospective
legislation concerning Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders;
 Review grants from federal, state, or private sources that are to be administered by the
Office of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs and approve the administration of
the grant by the Office or by a subcontractor of the Office;
5 R.C. 121.34(F); see also R.C. 124.15(J), not in the bill.
6 R.C. 121.34(B).
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As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Review and approve the annual report prepared by the Office of Asian-American and
Pacific Islander Affairs;
 Provide and coordinate the exchange of information relative to the needs of Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders and promote the delivery of state services to those
people.
Office of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs
The bill also creates the Office of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs, which is
accountable to the Ohio Asian-American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission. The Director
of the Office, whom the Commission appoints and is the chief administrator of the Office,
serves at the pleasure of the Commission. The Director, with the Commission’s approval, can
appoint employees as necessary to carry out the duties of the Office. The employees serve at
the pleasure of the Director.7
The Office must do all of the following:8
 Compile and provide information to, and advise, the Commission on solutions to the
problems of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders that are submitted to the Office by
public and private agencies;
 Execute any tasks assigned by the Commission;
 Serve as a clearinghouse to review and comment on all proposals to meet the needs of
Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders that are submitted to the Office by public and
private agencies;
 Apply for and accept grants and gifts from governmental and private sources to be
administered by the Office or subcontracted to local agencies;
 Monitor and evaluate all programs subcontracted to local agencies by the Commission
and ensure that any grant or gift is being used for the public purpose intended;
 Endeavor to ensure that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to decision-
making bodies in all state and local governmental departments and agencies;
 Submit a full written annual report of the Office’s activities, accomplishments, and
recommendations to the Commission;
 Establish advisory committees for special subjects, as needed, to facilitate and maximize
community participation in the operation of the Commission. An advisory committee
must be composed of persons representing community organizations, charitable
institutions, public officials, and other persons as the Office determines;
7 R.C. 121.341.
8 R.C. 121.341.
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As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Establish relationships with local governments, state governments, and private
businesses and industry that promote and ensure equal opportunity for Asian-
Americans and Pacific Islanders in government, education, and employment.
Appropriation
The bill appropriates $440,944 for both FY 2024 and 2025 to the Ohio Asian-American
and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission to operate the Commission.9
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 02-15-23
ANHB0025IN-135/ks
9 Sections 3 and 4 of the bill.
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As Introduced