State Representative Craig Newbold (R-Columbiana) announced today his “There Ought To Be a Law” contest in an effort to spur legislative proposals from his constituents. All residents of the 1st House District are eligible to participate with the ultimate goal of improving the state and their community.
Residents are asked to submit their idea and any supporting information to Representative Newbold’s office.
“As Columbiana County’s representative, I have met many people who have expressed their ideas about changes they feel would benefit us all,” Rep. Newbold said. “As I am unable to meet everyone in a timely manner, this initiative provides a process to hear from every individual who wants an opportunity to contribute to improving our state and county. I look forward to the input we will receive. ”
All participants must have their ideas submitted by Monday, October 3rd in order to qualify. The winner of the contest will be invited to lunch with Representative Newbold and will receive a flag that was flown over the Statehouse. The winner’s idea may be turned into a bill and introduced in the 2011 fall legislative session. The winner may also have the opportunity to testify in support of their idea during a committee hearing in the Statehouse, should the idea be turned into a bill.
Proposals can be submitted by mail to Representative Newbold, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, by email at mylaw@ohr.state.oh.us, or online at http://goo.gl/JYYCf.
Rep. Newbold hopes the contest will encourage constituents to become more involved with state government. For more information about the contest or for an application form, residents can contact Rep. Newbold at 77 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215, by phone at (614) 466-8022, or email district01@ohr.state.oh.us.
State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) today announced her “There Ought To Be a Law” contest in an effort to spur legislative proposals from constituents within the district. All residents of the 17th House District are eligible to participate with the ultimate goal of improving the state and their community. Residents are asked to submit their idea and any supporting information to Representative Anielski’s office.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity to get the constituents of the 17th House District directly engaged with what is happening in Columbus,” Anielski said. “I look forward to reviewing the proposals that are submitted.”
All participants must have their ideas submitted by Friday, September 30th in order to qualify. The winner of the contest will be invited to lunch with Representative Anielski and will receive a flag that was flown over the Statehouse. The winner’s idea may be turned into a bill and introduced in the 2011 fall legislative session. The winner may also have the opportunity to testify in support of his or her idea during a committee hearing in the Statehouse, should the idea be turned into a bill.
Proposals can be submitted by mail to Representative Anielski, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, by e-mail at mylaw@ohr.state.oh.us, or online at http://goo.gl/yGu52.
Rep. Anielski hopes the contest will encourage constituents to become more involved with state government. For more information about the contest or for an application form, residents can contact her office by phone at (614) 644-6041 or e-mail district17@ohr.state.oh.us.
At a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse, State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) today unveiled legislation to implement changes to Ohio’s Uniform Military and Overseas Voting law to make it more accurately reflect recommendations made by the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
“As a U.S. Navy veteran, it is particularly important to me that we ensure our men and women in uniform have a voice in elections while serving overseas,” Dovilla said. “I’m pleased and honored to have an opportunity to sponsor legislation that safeguards this civic right and responsibility.”
Specifically, this legislation will permit a uniformed services or overseas voter to apply for an absentee ballot by e-mail or, if offered by the board of elections, through Internet delivery; require boards of elections to accept and process federal write-in absentee ballots for all elections for federal, state or local office and for all ballot questions and issues; establish an emergency process for uniformed services and overseas voters to cast a ballot if an international, national, state or local emergency arises that makes substantial compliance with the federal absent voting law impossible or impracticable; and permit a uniformed services or overseas voter to use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot.
“This is just one of the ways we can honor the military members within our communities,” said Dovilla. “While these brave individuals are protecting our country and our families around the globe, we have a duty to protect their ability to vote. Their willingness to defend our freedoms - including at the ballot box - only underscores the importance of this effort to allow their voices to be heard in each and every election.”
This legislation enjoys bipartisan support, with Rep. Michael Stinziano (D-Columbus) jointly sponsoring the bill with Rep. Dovilla. It will soon be assigned to a House committee where it will undergo further consideration and debate.
State Representative Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed a comprehensive set of reforms that aim to revise Ohio’s sentencing law, address prison population growth, and streamline court, jail and prison operations.
House Bill 86 also includes the recommendations of the Council of State Governments Justice Reinvestment Project, an effort to help states address skyrocketing corrections expenditures and high recidivism rates among individuals upon release.
“Today we’ve taken a significant step toward reforming our criminal justice system and making it more effective,” Blessing said. “The system consumes an exorbitant amount of tax dollars and fails to successfully rehabilitate offenders. The status quo is simply unacceptable when we continue to funnel more and more dollars into a system that is underperforming. We can achieve significant savings by directing non-violent offenders into community-based programs that prepare individuals to be productive members of society, rather than repeatedly throwing the same people back into prison.”
According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio’s prison population is projected to increase to more than 40 percent over capacity by 2015. Currently, state prisons are filled to 33 percent over capacity, holding nearly 13,000 more individuals than they were designed to hold. House Bill 86 would successfully address this burgeoning problem through community programs that more effectively rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism rates at a more affordable cost for the taxpayers. It will also improve probation supervision and reduce duplication of resources.
Almost every major paper in the state of Ohio has featured positive commentary about sentencing reform, including the Columbus Dispatch, the Akron Beacon Journal and the Toledo Blade.
House Bill 86 passed by a vote of 96-2 and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
House Majority Whip John Adams (R-Sidney) recently introduced legislation that will incorporate the study of historically significant government documents into the educational curriculum of Ohio students.
Specifically, House Bill 211 will require that the social studies curriculum for elementary and secondary students in grades 4-12 includes the study of the following:
-Declaration of Independence -Northwest Ordinance -Constitution of the United States (with emphasis on the Bill of Rights) -Ohio Constitution
“We can’t expect our children to understand and defend the rights and freedoms the Founding Fathers intended for us—and that many people have died for—if they don’t have an understanding of how these documents led to the system of government we have today,” Adams said. “By giving these young people an understanding of our heritage, we are better preparing them to be active and productive citizens down the road.”
The study of these documents has recently been diminished in the standards and curricula developed by the Ohio Department of Education during the previous administration. If passed, the State Board of Education would be required to revise the standards and curricula to include the additional content.
State Representatives Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) and John Carey (R-Wellston) today announced that Governor John Kasich has signed into law House Bill 36, which will restore the number of school calamity days from three to five each year.
The law takes effect immediately and allows two additional calamity days for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. It will also allow schools the flexibility to make up calamity days by lengthening the school day in 30-minute increments.
“I’m very proud to see the passage of House Bill 36 and its importance to the district,” said Kozlowski. “We’ve faced a harsh winter, and hopefully this bill will remedy any concerns in the future. This bill gives back local control and flexibility to decide what’s best for their school district.”
In the past, the first five calamity days of each school year were excused and school districts made up calamity days beyond the fifth. However, as a result of an amendment to House Bill 1 during the 128th General Assembly, only three calamity days were beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, and many districts quickly used all available calamity days because of the snowy winter.
“Rep. Kozlowski and I worked very hard on this legislation, and I’m pleased that it is now signed into Ohio law,” said Carey. “We listened to the people in our communities who said that three calamity days is simply not enough for a state that faces extremely hazardous winters, and now local districts have more freedom to decide whether or not to cancel classes.”
House Bill 36 was introduced in January 2011 as a measure to empower school districts and administrators.
State Representatives John Carey (R-Wellston) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) today announced the passage of House Bill 128 from the Ohio House of Representatives. This legislation will help to improve public safety services by improving response times and helping to obtain funding for training programs.
In light of last year’s decision by the EMS Board to require all paramedic training programs to become nationally accredited by 2018, House Bill 128 would work with the EMS Board and the Ohio Department of Public Safety to revise provisions that govern grant programs to allow funding to help emergency training programs achieve national accreditation.
“This legislation would give vital resources and flexibility to emergency medical services that struggle to provide services due to limited funding and staffing,” Carey said. “One of the most important things lawmakers can do is to ensure that our communities back home are safe, and this bill takes a major step toward that goal.”
House Bill 128 would also address ambulance staffing by clarifying that an ambulance traveling to an emergency scene would only need one EMT or paramedic, who could also serve as the driver. Other personnel would be able to meet the ambulance at the scene to save critical time.
“In a time of emergency, it is vital for paramedics to be on the scene as soon as possible to assist those who need help,” said Peterson. “This bill will help to keep our community safe and recognize that in the face of an emergency, every second counts.”
The House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee included an amendment to streamline the process for contracting EMT services between a village and township. This amendment waives an unnecessary step in the fee collection procedure in an effort to make the process more efficient.
House Bill 128 passed unanimously and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 174, which honors Ohio’s former governor and U.S. senator, George Voinovich.
House Bill 174 designates the bridge that will span the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga County and will be a part of Interstate 90 as the “George V. Voinovich Bridge.” The project has an approximate completion date of late 2016 or early 2017.
“I am very pleased that this bridge will bear the name of one of Ohio’s great leaders and public servants,” said Batchelder, who sponsored the legislation. “This is a man who has dedicated his life to serving his community, our state and our nation, and his work has left a lasting impression on me, my colleagues and the people of Ohio.”
House Bill 174 has bipartisan co-sponsorship and passed from the House by a vote of 92-5. It now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed legislation to increase the Ohio judicial age of retirement to 75 years of age. Currently, Ohio law prohibits any individual from election or appointment to judicial office if they turn 70 before assuming office.
House Joint Resolution 1 will allow more practiced judges who are willing and able to serve to remain on the bench. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor supports raising the mandatory retirement age, as did the late Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
The legislation passed by a vote of 70-26 and now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. If enacted, a constitutional amendment will be voted on by Ohio voters in the November general election.
Recently, Representative Nan Baker (R-Westlake) and Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) introduced comprehensive legislation that will provide oversight of internet sweepstakes cafés. The proposal will address electronic games that look like slot machines, which can mislead players and cause confusion for law enforcement.
Working with Attorney General Mike DeWine, the bill would clarify the legality of electronic games for law enforcement and to provide assurance to Ohio consumers who want to play skill-based games or participate in sweepstakes or internet cafes that they do not have an unfair advantage.
“Providing oversight of unregulated operations will provide disclosure and transparency for consumers and allow our law enforcement, charities, and legitimate businesses to operate fairly,” said Rep. Baker.
Under the proposal, any skill-based amusement machine or sweepstakes machine would be required to:
Undergo a pre-play certification process, effective six months after the issuance of rules by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Obtain a license issued by the Casino Control Commission and paid for by the applicant that certifies that the machines have been tested by an outside laboratory. The license would be required to be displayed for easy public inspection, and certification would be at the expense of the operator or manufacturer.
Post stickers on each machine providing an instant verifiable sign to law enforcement and proving that the operator has a license and that each machine has passed inspection.
Face criminal penalties for violating the licensing requirements. Importantly, the bill allows local governments to opt out of allowing sweepstakes operations in their jurisdictions.
"We want local governments and legitimate sweepstakes operators to know that we are willing to work with them through the legislative process to address any issues they might raise," said Rep. Anielski.
The legislation will now be assigned to a House committee, where it will undergo extensive debate and consideration.
Today, Representative Bob Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati) and Speaker Pro Tempore Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) introduced comprehensive legislation that will initiate major reforms of Ohio’s elections process. The goal of the bill is to reduce costs of the running statewide elections and simplify the election elections process.
“Fair and accurate elections are a hallmark of the Democratic process,” said Mecklenborg. “The legislation I am sponsoring with Rep. Blessing is aimed at retaining these standards by improving the accessibility and accuracy of elections in the state of Ohio. We have also taken steps to help save tax dollars and make certain aspects of voter eligibility and Election Day procedures more convenient and accountable.”
“I’m very pleased by the bill that Rep. Mecklenborg and I have drafted and introduced today,” said Blessing. “Ensuring that our election laws are as comprehensive and methodical as possible is one of the most important tasks of the General Assembly. In addition to reducing any wasteful spending and providing stability to election laws, we also want to ensure that every Ohioan has a voice and that those voices are not diluted by any other factors.”
Among the components of the bill:
Allowing the creation of a top-down voter registration database and sharing of information of other states to ensure the accuracy of voter registration rolls
Allowing online change of address by registered voters
Authorizing the certification and use of electronic pollbooks
Simplifying the provisional voting process
Ensuring uniformity for the issuance of absentee voting applications, absentee voting locations, and time periods
Clarifying pollworker error
“Chairman Mecklenborg shares my goals of access and accuracy, and I commend Bob’s leadership on this vital issue,” Secretary of State Jon Husted said.
State Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo) introduced companion legislation in the Ohio Senate. The legislation will now be assigned to a House committee, where it will undergo extensive debate and consideration.
Local business is a cornerstone to the economy of our community. Without its proliferation, the delicate economic recovery we have been witnessing would come to a standstill. That makes it absolutely vital to the well being of Ohio’s economy that the state legislature takes every step necessary to help Ohio businesses flourish. Unnecessary, cumbersome regulations must not halt, hinder, or interfere with the growth of private sector businesses. This is why I have chosen to stand behind Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 94, which will together ensure that local businesses have every opportunity to grow and thrive in our community by revising and removing any regulations that have stopped this progress in the past.
For years Ohio has had in place stringent, inhibiting regulations that have put unnecessary strain on local business, small and large. Too often, these regulations were applied arbitrarily and inconsistently, making it excessively difficult to start and maintain a business in a reasonable amount of time. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 94 assure that these cumbersome, excessive regulations that hindered the growth of our local economy for so many years will finally be removed and local businesses can begin to grow with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
The passage of this legislation has created the Common Sense Initiative Office under the office of the governor. The CSI Office’s main goal is to review any regulatory practices within the realm of local business that may have an adverse effect on the procedure of a particular business or the conception and foundation of a new one. Funded with existing revenue and no new taxes, the CSI Office will be responsible for weighing the value of any existing regulation or proposed regulation against its potential harm on local business, changing them as needed to help foster the growth of businesses in our community. This process guarantees that the state legislature will continue to uphold regulations that are necessary and practical, while weeding out any that hinder private sector business operations.
Within the CSI Office, there will be a Small Business Advisory Council established to cater to the needs of small businesses in dealing with government regulations. Since small businesses often do not have access to the same legal resources as larger corporations, it is usually much harder for them to have their voices heard on the legislative forum. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 94 will give small businesses unprecedented access to the legislature, effectively helping them blossom and thrive in the competitive business arena and providing a much-needed boost to our local economy.
Furthermore, the passage of the Common Sense Initiative will allow more access to the state legislature for public input. This ensures that the most pertinent, pressing issues are dealt with and any particularly concerning business regulations are handled quickly and effectively.
Passing House Bill 94 has created a massive wealth of new opportunities for businesses in Ohio to start, grow, and succeed in bringing newfound jobs and prosperity to our state. Without the inhibiting, ineffective business regulations of the past, new businesses will surely begin to form in Ohio, boosting our economic recovery and giving us a promising future for generations to come.
The Ohio House of Representatives passed a resolution that aims to create thousands of local jobs in southern Ohio and invigorate the state economy. House Concurrent Resolution 4 urges President Barack Obama to direct the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) to grant a loan to USEC Inc. to ensure the continuation of the uranium enrichment project in Piketon.
“The American Centrifuge Project is a tremendous shovel-ready opportunity that the state of Ohio cannot afford to waste,” said State Representative Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), who sponsored HCR 4. “We are poised to create thousands of jobs across the state and the nation and re-affirm our status as the leader in the nuclear industry. After two and half years of waiting, it is time for this loan guarantee to be approved so that we can bring much-needed jobs and technology to southern Ohio.”
USEC’s application for a loan guarantee from USDOE has been pending for two-and-a-half years. Since 2002, USEC has invested nearly $2 billion of its own money to partially finance the American Centrifuge Project.
USEC is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. USEC operates the only U.S.-owned uranium enrichment facility in the United States and supplies more than half of the U.S. market and more than a quarter of the world market.
The American Centrifuge Project would create an estimated 8,000 direct and indirect American jobs—at least half of which would be based in Ohio. The Generation III+ nuclear power reactor located at this site would create more than 2,000 construction jobs and add approximately 500 permanent professional and technical jobs to the region.
“This is an important economic development opportunity for southern Ohio,” said State Representative John Carey (R-Wellston), whose district will also benefit from these jobs. “With the loan guarantee, the USEC facility in Piketon has the potential to create many much-needed jobs for our part of the state.”
State Representative Todd McKenney (R-New Franklin) has announced the passage of House Bill 139 from the Ohio House of Representatives by a vote of 92-1.
House Bill 139 changes the name of the “Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine” to the “Northeast Ohio Medical University.” The legislation includes an emergency clause to allow the new designated title to be utilized on upcoming graduation diplomas. The first class of pharmacy students will graduate in May. The legislation enables the charter class of pharmacy students to graduate under a new name that is not the “College of Medicine” and to award students a doctoral degree in the College of Pharmacy at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.
“I am pleased this legislation is moving forward,” McKenney said. “The new Northeast Ohio Medical University will soon play a major role in the economic development of Rootstown, Portage County, and all of northeastern Ohio. Renaming NEOUCOM as NeoMED is an important step in the school’s expansion process. The expanded university will drive local investment and new economic opportunities in the emerging field of biotechnology. This is a very exciting opportunity for our area.”
The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM) is a community-based, public institution offering both a doctor of medicine (M.D.) and a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The colleges’ educational partners include teaching hospitals, community pharmacies, boards of health and four northeast Ohio public universities.
Through these and other collaborative arrangements, the colleges participate in the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program and offer graduate-level coursework and research opportunities leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering. NEOUCOM is a founding member of the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron.
House Bill 139 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
State Representative Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton) has announced the passage of House Bill 65, legislation that incorporates 13 memorial highways in honor of heroic Ohioans.
House Bill 65 designates the following highways: • A section of State Route 4 within the municipal corporation of Fairfield as the "Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski Memorial Highway" • A section of US Route 50 within Highland County as the "Pfc. Zachary Gullett Memorial Highway" • A section of US Route number 50 within Vinton County as the "Ryan Seitz Memorial Highway" • A section of State Route 73 within Clinton County as the "Sgt. Steven Conover - Veterans Memorial Highway" • A section of State Route 729 within Clinton County as the "Lance Cpl. Brett Wightman - Veterans Memorial Highway" • A section of State Route 7 within Washington County as the "First Lt. Christopher Rutherford Memorial Highway” • A section of State Route 619 within the municipal corporation of Hartville in Stark County as the "Sgt. 1st Class Daniel B. Crabtree Memorial Road" • A section of State Route 103 within Wyandot County as the "Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge Memorial Highway" • A section of US Route 62 within Knox County as the "Army Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare Memorial Highway" • A section of US Route 20 within Huron County as the "Army Private Jason L. Sparks Memorial Highway” • Sections of Routes 145 and 163 within the municipal corporation of Oak Harbor in Ottawa County only as the "Army Sgt. Keith Kline Memorial Highway” • A section of US Route 20 within Sandusky County as the "Army Sgt. Jon Martin Memorial Highway” • A section of State Route 4 within the municipal corporation of Fairfield as the "Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski Memorial Highway” • A section of Interstate 480 located within the municipal corporation of Garfield Heights in Cuyahoga County as the "Corporal Brad Anthony Davis Memorial Highway”
The legislation also authorizes the Director of Transportation to erect suitable markers along the highways indicating their names. It was amended to include House Bills 23, 42, 57, 59, 75, 83, 91 and 117. Rep. Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont) also amended the bill to name two roads in his district after two veterans who were killed in the war in Iraq.
"It was an honor for me to carry the bill that honors Taylor Bradley Prazynski, who joined the marines not long after graduating from Fairfield High School in 2003,” said Combs, who serves as chairman of the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “Taylor joined the Marines because he wanted to make a difference. He knew the people of Iraq needed his help as a marine, and so without question, he headed there to lend a helping hand to the mission of bringing peace to them.
“On May 9th, 2005, Taylor was killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karmah, Iraq. He will be remembered as a hero by all his family and friends for his deeds in life. To help keep his memory alive I proposed House Bill 65 which would name a stretch of highway on State Route 4 in the City of Fairfield after Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski. This is but a small token of appreciation we can do to remember Taylor for his service to his community and country.”
House Bill 65 passed with unanimous support and will now undergo further consideration in the Ohio Senate.
State Representative Ron Young (R-Leroy) has proposed legislation to reform Ohio’s E-check testing regulations.
Young’s legislation will decentralize E-check car inspections and allow vehicle owners to have their vehicles E-check tested when they obtain an oil change or other vehicle maintenance.
“Over the past 15 years, E-check has proved to be an unfortunate waste of time and money,” Rep. Young said. “If we cannot eliminate E-check, I at least want to make it more convenient for vehicle owners in Ohio and less expensive to the state by decentralizing E-check inspections.”
Starting next year, vehicle owners in Ohio would be able to go to an approved oil change provider or service garage and have their vehicles’ emissions tested. The owner still will not have to pay for the cost of the E-check test, but the cost to the state for the test will be less than the current cost. “All Ohioans win under my legislation,” Young added.
Rep. Young said he looks forward to working with his legislative colleagues in the House as this bill is assigned to committee and hearings commence on the legislation.
After more than 60 hours of testimony and more than 200 witnesses over a period of nearly two months, Senate Bill 5 today passed from the Ohio House of Representatives. This legislation restores fairness for Ohio’s taxpayers and helps prevent mass layoffs of dedicated public employees by giving local governments the flexibility to manage their own finances.
Senate Bill 5 wholly reinvents the relationship between public-sector unions, local governments and the taxpayers. With many local governments threatened by bankruptcy and unable to control their costs, many communities may suffer massive tax increases or widespread layoffs just to keep public services solvent. This legislation—which restores Ohioans’ influence over the government and its employees that they pay for—aims to save these vital jobs while also lowering the tax burden on the middle class.
“Today, this House has taken an unprecedented step toward public policy that respects all Ohioans, especially our taxpayers and our hardworking middle class,” said Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina). “Senate Bill 5 protects the collective bargaining rights of Ohioans while also giving local governments an additional tool in the toolbox as they balance their budgets. Truly the most important thing we can do is ensure that our public services remain of the highest quality and that we give employers the ability to maintain and reward their employees—rather than resorting to mass layoffs due to ironclad contracts.”
Despite 13 committee hearings on the legislation, the House Democrats offered no amendments to the bill. Furthermore, in Tuesday’s Commerce and Labor Committee, the minority caucus voted unanimously against an amendment that would allow public safety personnel to bargain for safety equipment.
In addition to the Republican amendment to permit bargaining for safety equipment, House modifications to Senate Bill 5 include provisions that permit communications between bargaining parties, clarify that death benefit amounts for spouses are not affected by changes in the bill, and eliminate jail time as a possible penalty for striking.
The House version also removes the use of ticket quotas to determine performance-based pay for law enforcement officials, eliminates automatic union deductions without written consent, and prohibits “fair share” fee penalties as a requirement to be a non-union member within an organization. Additionally, under certain conditions, labor disputes may be settled by voters at the ballot, with last best offers of each bargaining party considered and resolved by Ohio’s taxpayers.
“In this bill, we have successfully maintained the bargaining rights of our communities’ most important public workers—those who educate our children, protect our families and homes, and keep our neighborhoods clean and thriving,” said State Representative Joe Uecker (R-Loveland), who serves as chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee. “At the same time, we’ve updated Ohio’s collective bargaining law, which for nearly three decades has rampantly expanded and put an undue strain on our local governments. We have found a delicate balance that will respect the taxpayers, save state and local jobs, and improve the public services we rely on each day.”
To specifically advance the quality of education in Ohio’s classrooms and reward teachers, S.B. 5 establishes standard state guidelines to determine educators’ compensation and other terms of employment. While 50 percent of educator evaluations must be based on student performance as developed by the Ohio Department of Education, local school boards have the authority to establish objective measures related to quality of instructional practice, communication and professionalism, parent/student satisfaction, and other relevant factors.
As passed, S.B. 5 is expected to save local governments more than $1 billion while ensuring that public employees can still collectively bargain under a better system with negotiations, mediation and fairness.
“The economic reality is that here in Ohio, we are looking down the barrel of an $8 billion budget hole that—without prudent reforms and a commitment to reshaping the way Ohio does business—would simply not have disappeared on its own,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati). “It requires difficult decisions, and we’ve taken a step toward sustainable changes that will benefit us today and our children tomorrow. As local governments fight to stay afloat amid this financial storm, we have protected our communities and the indispensible services that our public employees give us.”
State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Township) yesterday applauded the passage of HJR 2, better known as the Ohio Healthcare Freedom Act, out of the House Health & Aging Committee. Sears and other Republican lawmakers believe that this is a significant step toward defending Ohioans’ health care choices.
“President Obama told the American public during the national health care debate that if we liked our current health care plans, then we could keep them,” Sears said. “Simply put, the Health Care Freedom Act ensures that Ohioan’s have the ability to not only keep their insurance if they like it, but to find a new one if they don’t.”
The Health Care Freedom Act would preserve the freedom of Ohioans to make their own health care decisions by proposing an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that prohibits any rule or law from forcing a person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system.
“We cherish freedom in America, whether it’s something as simple as where to eat, or something as difficult as where we want to raise our children,” Sears said. “For health care, this legislation emphasizes that the patient remains the most important figure in health care and allows us make our own health care decisions no matter if they’re hard or easy.”
Similar legislation has been introduced in several states. If passed, the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act would appear as a statewide ballot issue.
At a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse, Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina), Speaker Pro Tempore Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati), State Representative Bob Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati) and members of House majority leadership commended the passage of the “Ohio Fair and Secure Elections Act” from the Ohio House, as well as resolved misconceptions that were circulated by the minority caucus. House Bill 159 will require voters to confirm their identities by presenting photo identification when voting on Election Day or by absentee in person at the Board of Elections.
“The passage of House Bill 159 is a victory for the people of Ohio and for a fair democratic elections process,” said Batchelder. “At a time when voter fraud has corrupted the voice of the people, we took a significant step today in rectifying this important issue.”
Currently, when voting on Election Day, a voter may submit as proof of identification valid photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, paycheck or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address. The proposed legislation would require that all voters voting on Election Day or in person absentee to present photo identification in the form of an Ohio driver’s license, Ohio state ID card, a military identification, or a U.S. passport. Acceptable forms of identification remain unchanged for persons voting absentee by mail.
“Ensuring that our elections process is fair, honorable and lawful is a hallmark of the democratic process,” said Blessing, who jointly sponsored House Bill 159 with Rep. Mecklenborg. “I’m pleased that this measure is one step closer toward improving elections in Ohio.”
The bill also directs the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to pass rules giving IDs to persons who cannot afford them at no charge, and allows a person with religious objection to being photographed to vote provisionally and sign an affidavit of religious objection.
“It is important that as lawmakers, we work to maintain integrity at the polls and address the issue of voter fraud, which has become a significant problem in Ohio,” said Mecklenborg.
The House State Government and Elections Committee heard testimony from a variety of proponents, including secretaries of state from states that have already implemented similar legislation, and top officials from the Cuyahoga and Hamilton County Boards of Election. Currently, nine states require voter photo identification, while legislation is currently pending or being considered in 20 other states. The “Ohio Fair and Secure Elections Act” borrows from Indiana and Georgia laws addressing voter identification, which have withstood constitutional scrutiny.
An August 2010 Rasmussen Reports survey found that 82 percent of voters approve of voter photo identification requirements. In Ohio, former Democrat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner ordered an investigation into possible voter fraud when 92 Lawrence County absentee ballots were sent to one of two post box numbers.
House Bill 159 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
