Ohio Civil Rights Commission reports record caseload, asks to maintain staffing in biennium budget

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee it has experienced rapid caseload growth and is relying on a combination of federal reimbursements and General Revenue Fund support to meet statutory timelines.

"The commission is committed to promoting positive human relations throughout its diverse communities," Executive Director Angela Phelps White said. She described the commission as Ohio’s lead civil‑rights enforcement agency and said it enforces complaints in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and higher education.

Phelps White said the commission implemented a new electronic case management system in June 2023, which allows public filing online and enables staff to transfer cases between regions more quickly. She credited the system with operational improvements but told senators it will not eliminate the need for investigators. "Unfortunately, the investigation process... will not assist us in the actual work of that," she said.

The commission reported a surge in filings after an April 15, 2021 statutory change requiring employment discrimination claims to be filed with the commission before state court. Phelps White said filings rose from 6,395 in FY 2023 to 7,779 in FY 2024 and that the commission increased investigator positions from 84 to 92 during the most recent budget revision; average caseload per investigator fell from slightly above 200 to about 189.

On federal reimbursements, Phelps White explained that the commission receives per‑case payments from federal partners: roughly $3,200 for HUD‑covered completed cases and $830 for EEOC‑covered completed cases. She said the commission received about $1.4 million in FY 2024 tied to completed cases.

Phelps White recommended the commission's executive budget recommendation for the GRF: $7,464,880 for FY 2026 and $7,763,235 for FY 2027. She told senators that personnel costs represent about 78% of the commission’s projected expenses and that federal funding is a key component to sustain investigative workloads.

Committee members asked whether the new case management system would permit staff reductions; Phelps White replied it would not, because investigations require individual review. The committee also asked about the federal funding outlook; she said EEOC and HUD have indicated they will honor existing contracts for the current year and that payments are tied to completed investigations.

No committee vote occurred; the commission’s funding request will proceed through the standard budget process.