Ohio Revised Code Title I. State Government § 173.01

(A) Be the designated state agency to administer programs of the federal government relating to the aged, requiring action within the state, that are not the specific responsibility of another state agency under federal or state statutes. The department shall be the sole state agency to administer funds granted by the federal government under the “Older Americans Act of 1965,” 79 Stat. 219, 42 U.S.C. 3001, as amended. The department shall not supplant or take over for the counties or municipal corporations or from other state agencies or facilities any of the specific responsibilities borne by them on November 23, 1973. The department shall cooperate with such federal and state agencies, counties, and municipal corporations and private agencies or facilities within the state in furtherance of the purposes as set forth in this chapter.

(B) Administer state funds appropriated for its use for administration and for grants and may use appropriated state funds as state match for federal grants. All federal funds received shall be reported to the director of budget and management.

(C) Review all proposed plans, programs, and rules primarily affecting persons sixty years of age or older, and shall be sent a copy of all proposed and final rules, as well as proposals for plans and programs that primarily affect persons sixty years of age or older and notices of all hearings on such rules, plans, and programs. Any state agency proposing a plan, program, or rule that primarily affects persons sixty years of age or older shall submit a copy of such proposal to the department for its written comments. No such proposed plan, program, or rule shall take effect until the department's comments have been requested. The department shall review the proposal and submit a written comment on such proposal to the agency making the proposal, within thirty days from the date the department receives the proposal. If the department does not agree that the proposed plan, program, or rule shall take effect as proposed, the department shall set forth in writing its reasons and its suggestions for changes in the proposed plan, program, or rule. If the agency making the proposal does not choose to comply with the suggestions of the department, the agency making the proposal shall send the department, no later than thirty days before the proposal becomes final, written notice of its intention not to comply with such suggestions and its reason for such noncompliance.

This section does not apply to plans or revisions adopted under section 5101.46 of the Revised Code.

(D) Plan, initiate, coordinate, and evaluate statewide programs, services, and activities for elderly people;

(E) Disseminate information concerning the problems of elderly people and establish and maintain a central clearinghouse of information on public programs at all levels of government that would be of interest or benefit to the elderly;

(F) Report annually to the governor and the general assembly on the department's programs;

(G) Have authority to contract with public or private groups to perform services for the department;

(H) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to govern the operation of services and facilities for the elderly that are provided, operated, contracted for, or supported by the department, and determine that those services and facilities are operated in conformity with the rules;

(I) Determine the needs of the elderly and represent their interests at all levels of government;

(J) Establish and operate a state long-term care ombudsman program pursuant to sections 307 and 712 of the “Older Americans Act of 1965,” 42 U.S.C. 3027 and 3058.