The Board of Commissioners is the body in which rests the statutory responsibility and authority of the agency. It is comprised of eleven members appointed by the Governor. Each commissioner serves for a three year term, and may be reappointed to serve additional terms. The terms of office of the commissioners are staggered so that approximately one-third of seats on the board is open for appointment/reappointment each October.
By law, Commissioners are required to be residents of the State of Ohio, citizens or lawful residents of the United States of America, of Latino heritage, and with some degree of ability to speak Spanish.
Although they are gubernatorial appointees, the Governor is not the only state leader with a say in the appointment of commissioners. The Governor has carte blanche authority to appoint five commissioners, the Speaker of the Ohio House and the President of the Ohio Senate each recommend two commissioners for appointment, and the Minority Leaders of the Ohio House and Senate each recommend one commissioner for appointment.
The Commissioners as a whole have a final say in determining the policies, the annual budget plan, the direction and the initiatives of the Commission. Any action of the Board of Commissioners requires at least six votes in the affirmative. The Director of the Commission is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners.