Ohio Rev. Code § 5123.16 (2026)

(A) As used in sections 5123.16 to 5123.1613 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Applicant" means any of the following:

(a) The chief executive officer of a business that applies under section 5123.161 of the Revised Code for a certificate to provide supported living;

(b) The chief executive officer of a business that seeks renewal of the business's supported living certificate under section 5123.164 of the Revised Code;

(c) An individual who applies under section 5123.161 of the Revised Code for a certificate to provide supported living as an independent provider;

(d) An independent provider who seeks renewal of the independent provider's supported living certificate under section 5123.164 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Business" means an association, corporation, nonprofit organization, partnership, trust, or other group of persons. "Business" does not mean an independent provider.

(3) "Criminal records check" has the same meaning as in section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Disqualifying offense" means any of the offenses listed or described in divisions (A)(3)(a) to (e) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Independent provider" means a provider who provides supported living on a self-employed basis and does not employ, directly or through contract, another person to provide the supported living.

(6) "Provider" means a person or government entity certified by the director of developmental disabilities to provide supported living. For the purpose of division (A)(8) of this section, "provider" includes a person or government entity that seeks or previously held a certificate to provide supported living.

(7) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Related party" means any of the following:

(a) In the case of a provider who is an individual, any of the following:

(i) The spouse of the provider;

(ii) A parent or stepparent of the provider or provider's spouse;

(iii) A child of the provider or provider's spouse;

(iv) A sibling, half sibling, or stepsibling of the provider or provider's spouse;

(v) A grandparent of the provider or provider's spouse;

(vi) A grandchild of the provider or provider's spouse.

(b) In the case of a provider that is a person other than an individual, any of the following:

(i) Any person or government entity that directly or indirectly controls the provider's day-to-day operations (including as a general manager, business manager, financial manager, administrator, or director), regardless of whether the person or government entity exercises the control pursuant to a contract or other arrangement and regardless of whether the person or government entity is required to file an Internal Revenue Code form W-2 for the provider;

(ii) An officer of the provider, including the chief executive officer, president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer;

(iii) A member of the provider's board of directors or trustees;

(iv) A person owning a financial interest of five per cent or more in the provider, including a direct, indirect, security, or mortgage financial interest;

(v) The spouse, parent, stepparent, child, sibling, half sibling, stepsibling, grandparent, or grandchild of any of the persons specified in divisions (A)(8)(b)(i) to (iv) of this section;

(vi) A person over which the provider has control of the day-to-day operation;

(vii) A corporation that has a subsidiary relationship with the provider.

(c) In the case of a provider that is a government entity, any of the following:

(i) Any person or government entity that directly or indirectly controls the provider's day-to-day operations (including as a general manager, financial manager, administrator, or director), regardless of whether the person or government entity exercises the control pursuant to a contract or other arrangement;

(ii) An officer of the provider;

(iii) A member of the provider's governing board;

(iv) A person or government entity over which the provider has control of the day-to-day operation.

(B) No person or government entity may provide supported living without a valid supported living certificate issued by the director of developmental disabilities.

(C) A county board of developmental disabilities may provide supported living only to the extent permitted by rules adopted under section 5123.1611 of the Revised Code.