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| To enact section 3304.55 of the Revised Code to | 1 |
| create the Disability Accommodations through | 2 |
| Technology Council. | 3 |
| Section 1. That section 3304.55 of the Revised Code be | 4 |
| enacted to read as follows: | 5 |
| Sec. 3304.55. (A) As used in this section: | 6 |
| (1) "Blind" has the same meaning as in section 3304.28 of the | 7 |
| Revised Code. | 8 |
| (2) "State institution of higher education" has the same | 9 |
| meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code. | 10 |
| (B) There is hereby created within the opportunities for | 11 |
| Ohioans with disabilities agency the disability accommodations | 12 |
| through technology council. The council shall consist of the | 13 |
| following nine members appointed by the governor: | 14 |
| (1) Three representatives of businesses engaged in the field | 15 |
| of technology; | 16 |
| (2) Three representatives of state institutions of higher | 17 |
| education; | 18 |
| (3) Three representatives of the blind community. | 19 |
| (C) The governor shall make initial appointments to the | 20 |
| council not later than ninety days after the effective date of | 21 |
| this section. Of the initial appointments to the council, the | 22 |
| governor shall appoint one member who represents business, one | 23 |
| member who represents state institutions of higher education, and | 24 |
| one member who represents the blind community to a term ending one | 25 |
| year after the effective date of this section; one member who | 26 |
| represents business, one member who represents state institutions | 27 |
| of higher education, and one member who represents the blind | 28 |
| community to a term ending two years after the effective date of | 29 |
| this section; and one member who represents business, one member | 30 |
| who represents state institutions of higher education, and one | 31 |
| member who represents the blind community to a term ending three | 32 |
| years after the effective date of this section. Thereafter, terms | 33 |
| of office shall be for three years, with each term ending on the | 34 |
| same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each | 35 |
| member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment | 36 |
| until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. | 37 |
| Members may be reappointed to one additional term. Any member | 38 |
| appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date | 39 |
| of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall | 40 |
| hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member | 41 |
| shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the | 42 |
| member's term until a successor takes office or until a period of | 43 |
| sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. | 44 |
| Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but | 45 |
| shall be paid the actual and necessary expenses they incur in the | 46 |
| performance of their duties. | 47 |
| The governor annually shall appoint a chairperson from the | 48 |
| members of the council. The governor may reappoint the chairperson | 49 |
| to serve one additional term as chairperson. The council shall | 50 |
| meet at least six times annually at the times and places | 51 |
| designated by the chairperson. | 52 |
| (D) The council shall do all of the following: | 53 |
| (1) Study and determine methods to improve accommodations for | 54 |
| individuals with disabilities through technology; | 55 |
| (2) Prepare a report that summarizes the council's findings | 56 |
| under division (D)(1) of this section; | 57 |
| (3) Beginning one year after the effective date of this | 58 |
| section, and every year thereafter, submit the report required | 59 |
| under division (D)(2) of this section to the governor. | 60 |
| (E) The council may adopt rules as necessary for the conduct | 61 |
| of its business. The executive director of the opportunities for | 62 |
| Ohioans with disabilities agency shall assign one professional | 63 |
| staff person to the council to serve as executive secretary and | 64 |
| other personnel as determined advisable. | 65 |
| (F) There is hereby created in the state treasury the | 66 |
| technology assistance fund. The fund shall consist of donations, | 67 |
| gifts, and contributions to the fund the executive director of the | 68 |
| opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency receives from | 69 |
| businesses and of any appropriations made to the fund. The | 70 |
| executive director shall use the moneys in the fund to improve | 71 |
| accommodations for individuals with disabilities through | 72 |
| technology. | 73 |