Fitness of child welfare applicant.

(A)(1) As used in this section, "applicant" has the same meaning as in section 5153.111 of the Revised Code, and includes an intern applicant or a volunteer applicant. (2) "Intern applicant" means a trainee seeking practical educational and career experience who is under consideration for a position with a public children services agency to work, with or without monetary gain or compensation, as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child; (3) "Volunteer applicant" means a person who is under consideration for a position with a public children services agency to perform services within the agency voluntarily, without monetary gain or compensation, as a person responsible for the care, custody, or control of a child. (B) Notwithstanding division (I)(1) of section 2151.421, section 5153.17, and any other section of the Revised Code pertaining to confidentiality, before a public children services agency employs an applicant, the executive director of the agency, or the executive director's designee within the agency, shall review promptly any information the agency determines to be relevant for the purpose of evaluating the fitness of the applicant, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Abuse and neglect reports made pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code of which the applicant is the subject where it has been determined that abuse or neglect occurred; (2) The final disposition of investigations of the abuse and neglect reports, or if the investigations have not been completed, the status of the investigations; (3) Any underlying documentation concerning the reports. (C) The information reviewed under division (B) of this section shall not include the name of the person or entity that made the report or participated in the making of the report of child abuse or neglect. (D) The director of children and youth shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement this section. Last updated January 1, 2025 at 5:50 AM