101.37 Joint council on developmental disabilities. - Ohio Statutes

101.37 Joint council on developmental disabilities.

(A) There is hereby created the joint council on developmental disabilities. The joint council shall consist of three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, three members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, and the director of developmental disabilities. At least one member of the joint council appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and at least one member appointed by the president of the senate shall be a member of the house or senate committee with primary responsibility for appropriation issues and at least one member appointed by the speaker and at least one member appointed by the president shall be a member of the house or senate committee with primary responsibility for human services issues.

Members of the joint council shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties, provided that reimbursement for such expenses shall not exceed limits imposed upon the department of developmental disabilities by administrative rules regulating travel within this state. Members shall receive no other compensation.

The joint council shall organize itself within fifteen days after the commencement of each regular session of the general assembly by electing a chairperson and vice-chairperson. The joint council may meet upon the call of the chairperson, the director, or on the request of any three members.

Members of the joint council who are appointed from the general assembly shall serve until the expiration of their terms in the general assembly. Any vacancies occurring among the general assembly members of the joint council shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

(B) The joint council shall do all of the following:

(1) Appoint the original members of the citizen’s advisory council at any institution under the control of the department of developmental disabilities that is created after November 15, 1981;

(2) Make final determinations in any dispute between the director of developmental disabilities and a citizen’s advisory council concerning the appointment of members to the citizen’s advisory council, as provided for in section 5123.092 of the Revised Code;

(3) Receive reports from citizen’s advisory councils on or before the thirty-first day of January of each year, as required by section 5123.093 of the Revised Code;

(4) Receive reports as appropriate concerning extenuating circumstances at institutions under the control of the department of developmental disabilities;

(5) Conduct reviews and make recommendations to the director of developmental disabilities with respect to any disputes between the department of developmental disabilities and entities that have entered into contracts with the department for the provision of protective services to individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities;

(6) Provide the director of developmental disabilities with advice on legislative and fiscal issues affecting the department of developmental disabilities, county boards of developmental disabilities, persons with mental retardation or developmental disabilities, and providers of services to persons with mental retardation or developmental disabilities and on related issues the director requests the joint council to address;

(7) On behalf of the director of developmental disabilities, advocate to the general assembly legislative issues about which the joint council has provided advice to the director.

(C) Reports and any correspondence received by the joint council shall be deposited with the legislative service commission, which shall retain them for not less than three years after the date of deposit.

Amended by 128th General Assembly ch. 7, SB 79, § 1, eff. 10/6/2009.

Effective Date: 09-05-2001