The establishment of the council will ensure greater safekeeping of personal identifiable information (PII), while simultaneously helping to develop one of the fastest growing employment fields in the state. This safeguard is necessary due to state governments becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks since they maintain the largest collection of PII.

“With the passage of House Bill 331, Ohio will become one of the most-forward looking states in the field of cybersecurity,” said Representative Dovilla, who jointly sponsored the legislation with Representative Bubp. “We now have an opportunity for Ohio to become the national leader in protecting the private information of our citizens and preparing our students for the challenging, yet rewarding careers in this important field.”

“Legislation that creates a council of this sort is unique to Ohio and has great potential for growing and maintaining a relevant workforce in the 21st century,” said Representative Bubp. “I’m happy to see that both the House and the Senate have worked together to pass this legislation and help safeguard our personal information.”

The council will consist of 12 members who are appointed to serve two-year terms. The bill authorizes the council to request the assistance of other state offices and requires offices to provide requested assistance.