As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 98
2025-2026
Representatives Santucci, Williams
Cosponsors: Representatives Fischer, John, Klopfenstein, Claggett, Mullins,
Thomas, D., Workman, Daniels
A B I L L
To enact section 3301.25 of the Revised Code to
establish the Community Connectors Workforce
Program and to make an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 3301.25 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 3301.25. (A) The department of education and
workforce shall establish the community connectors workforce
program to support connecting students to jobs, internships, and
career professionals in their communities.
(B)(1) The department shall oversee the program, and each
educational service center shall administer the program for the
school districts it serves. Each educational service center
shall, to the extent that funds are appropriated by the general
assembly to do so, employ at least one, but not more than three,
individuals to work as directors in high schools in the
districts to which it provides services. Each educational
service center shall determine the number of directors it
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As Introduced
employs under this section.
(2) Educational service centers shall determine any
eligibility or application requirements for the directors,
however the director shall have experience in job placement,
school counseling, or primary and secondary education.
(C) Directors employed under division (B) of this section
shall do all of the following:
(1) Collaborate with OhioMeansJobs and other community
partners, as identified by the director, to identify available
jobs, apprenticeships, and internships in the community, and
engage students in career mentoring with community members;
(2) Determine the number of students that may participate
in the program at the district or school;
(3) Create an application and procedures to apply for the
program and, as a part of the application procedures, interview
students and administer an aptitude test, as selected by the
director, to assess their professional skills to determine a
student's eligibility and preparedness to participate in the
program;
(4) Offer dedicated and regular classroom instruction to
the maximum number of students possible in soft skills and
professional skills training, including problem-solving, time
management, creative and critical thinking, communication and
civility, and ethics. If a district or school currently offers
similar instruction the director shall collaborate with those
instructors, other appropriate school officials that have
commensurate experience, and professionals who support the
development of career and life pathways in the school. Students
may use instruction under division (B)(4) of this section to
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As Introduced
qualify for the OhioMeansJobs-readiness seal established under
section 3313.6112 of the Revised Code.
(5) Report to the educational service center that employs
the director and to the department of education all of the
following:
(a) The number of students participating in the program;
(b) The number of students who are placed in jobs,
apprenticeships, or internships through the program;
(c) The number of students who receive soft skills and
professional skills training offered by the director.
(D) Any business or organization that employs a student
through the program shall comply with the applicable minor labor
laws prescribed under section 4109.02 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. All items in this act are hereby appropriated
as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the
credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations
made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year
2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027.
The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to
any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
Section 3.
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A EDU DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
BState Lottery Fund Group
C7017 200629 Community Connectors $8,000,000 $8,000,000
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As Introduced
Workforce Program
DTOTAL SLF State Lottery Fund Group $8,000,000 $8,000,000
ETOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS $8,000,000 $8,000,000
COMMUNITY CONNECTORS
The foregoing appropriation item 200629, Community
Connectors Workforce Program, shall be used for the Community
Connectors Workforce Program created in section 3301.25 of the
Revised Code.
Section 4. Within the limits set forth in this act, the
Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts
indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation
made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which
appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from
operating appropriations contained in this act shall be
accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act
of the 136th General Assembly.
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