Ohio § 3701.78

§ 3701.78.

(A) There is hereby created the commission on minority health, consisting of twenty-two

members.  The governor shall appoint to the commission nine members from among health researchers,

health planners, and health professionals.  The governor also shall appoint two members who are representatives of the lupus

awareness and education program.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint to the commission two

members of the house of representatives, not more than one of whom is a member of

the same political party, and the president of the senate shall appoint to the commission

two members of the senate, not more than one of whom is a member of the same political

party.  The following shall be members of the commission:  the directors of health, mental

health and addiction services, developmental disabilities, aging, children and youth,

and job and family services, or their designees;  the medicaid director, or the director's

designee;  and the director of education and workforce, or the director's designee. The commission shall elect a chairperson from among its members. Of the members appointed by the governor, five shall be appointed to initial terms

of one year, and four shall be appointed to initial terms of two years.  Thereafter, all members appointed by the governor shall be appointed to terms of

two years.  All members of the commission appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives

or the president of the senate shall be nonvoting members of the commission and be

appointed within forty-five days after the commencement of the first regular session

of each general assembly, and shall serve until the expiration of the session of the

general assembly during which they were appointed. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed

for the actual and necessary expenses they incur in the performance of their official

duties. (B) The commission shall promote health and the prevention of disease among members of

minority groups.  Each year the commission shall distribute grants from available funds to community-based

health groups to be used to promote health and the prevention of disease among members

of minority groups.  As used in this division, “ minority group ” means any of the following economically disadvantaged groups:  Blacks, American

Indians, Hispanics, and Orientals.  The commission shall adopt and maintain rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised

Code to provide for the distribution of these grants.  No group shall qualify to receive a grant from the commission unless it receives

at least twenty per cent of its funds from sources other than grants distributed under

this section. (C) The commission may appoint such employees as it considers necessary to carry out

its duties under this section.  The department of health shall provide office space for the commission. (D) The commission shall meet at the call of its chairperson to conduct its official

business.  A majority of the voting members of the commission constitute a quorum.  The votes of at least eight voting members of the commission are necessary for the

commission to take any official action or to approve the distribution of grants under

this section.