As Reported by the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee

136th General Assembly

Regular Session Sub. H. B. No. 98

2025-2026

Representatives Santucci, Williams

Cosponsors: Representatives Fischer, John, Klopfenstein, Claggett, Mullins, Thomas, D., Workman, Daniels

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 that have entered into a contract with the educational service center under division (B) of section 3313.843 of the Revised Code. Each educational service center shall, to the extent that funds are appropriated by the general assembly to do so, employ or contract for services with at least one, but not more than three, individuals to work as directors in high schools in the districts that have entered into a contract with the educational service center under division (B) of section 3313.843 of the Revised Code. Each educational service center shall determine the number of directors it employs or contracts with 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 identified under division (B) of this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Collaborate with local OhioMeansJobs centers 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) Consider a student's graduation plan developed under section 3313.617 of the Revised Code when placing that student in a job, apprenticeship, or internship through the program;

(5) 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 qualify for the OhioMeansJobs-readiness seal established under section 3313.6112 of the Revised Code.

(6) Report to the educational service center that employs or contracts with the director and to the department of education and workforce 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.

COMMUNITY CONNECTORS

The foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors Workforce Program, shall be used for the Community Connectors Workforce Program created in section 3301.25 of the Revised Code.

Of the foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors Workforce Program, $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be allocated equally among educational service centers.

Of the foregoing appropriation item 200556, Community Connectors Workforce Program, $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be allocated to educational service centers in proportion to the number of students in each center's student count calculated under division (G)(1) of section 3313.843 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.