The department of job and family services may employ or contract with hearing officers to draft and recommend state hearing decisions under division (B) of section 5101.35 of the Revised Code. The department may employ or contract with hearing authorities to issue state hearing decisions under division (B) of section 5101.35 of the Revised Code. A hearing authority employed or contracted with under this section is not required to have been admitted to the practice of law in this state.