March 14, 2012

Hill Announces Legislation to Address Exotic Animal Ownership

State Representative Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) today introduced legislation at the Ohio House of Representatives to regulate the ownership of certain wild and dangerous animals in Ohio.

The bill would ban ownership of large carnivores and reptiles such as lions, tigers, elephants, komodo dragons and crocodiles starting January 1, 2014. The bill also has provisions regarding restricted primates and restricted snakes.

“It became all the more evident from the recent incident with exotic animals in Zanesville, that something had to be done,” Representative Hill said. “Senator Balderson and I have worked together and agree with the direction of this legislation and have the shared goal of protecting Ohioans from such a tragic event occurring again. Little to no regulation for those who own these kinds of dangerous and wild animals is unacceptable. This bill is a common-sense fix that will ensure the safety of both the public, as well as the animals.”

Ohio currently has no regulations pertaining to the ownership of exotic animals, although the United States Department of Agriculture issues licenses to those wishing to breed or exhibit such animals. If that license is revoked, the owner likely reverts to being a private owner with no further consequences. This means that someone who owns one of the animals as a pet is not subject to any specific regulation at the state or federal level.

The new legislation sponsored by Representative Hill is companion legislation to Senate Bill 310, which Senator Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) recently introduced. It is awaiting a bill number.

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March 13, 2012

Reps. Bubp and Dovilla Announce Passage of Legislation Creating Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council

State Representatives Danny Bubp (R-West Union) and Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) have announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 331, which creates the Cybersecurity, Education and Economic Development Council. The Council’s duty is to study how the state’s Cybersecurity operations could be improved and how growth in the state’s cybersecurity industry could be accelerated.

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 more and more vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks because they maintain the largest collection of PII.

“The Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council will have the ability to study how the state’s cybersecurity infrastructure can be improved and how to improve the cybersecurity industry in Ohio,” said Bubp. “It is my desire to see Ohio benefit from the Council with a stronger cybersecurity presence that protects our resources and personal information, but will also allow for efficiency of services in both the public and private fields.” 

Legislation that creates a council of this sort is unique to Ohio, and bodes great potential for growing and maintaining a relevant workforce in the 21st Century.

“As one witness testified in committee, ‘This legislation is unique and bold,’” said Dovilla.  “We have an unprecedented opportunity to attract not only more jobs, but more high paying jobs, of critical importance to our national security.”

The Council consists of 12 members, who will be appointed and serve two-year terms. The bill authorizes the Council to request the assistance of other state offices and requires offices to provide requested assistance.

H.B. 331 passed by a vote of 96-0 and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.

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February 15, 2012

Ohio House Passes Legislation to Create Blue Alert Program

With unanimous support, the Ohio House of Representatives today passed Senate Bill 258 to create the statewide Blue Alert Program, a emergency alert system to broadcast information about law-enforcement officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.

Similar to how Amber Alerts transmit information about missing persons, Blue Alerts will share information about officers who may be victims of violence on the job, as well information about the suspects who may have killed or injured them.

“Although we can’t keep every law enforcement officer out of harm’s way, we can certainly do everything we can to catch violent offenders and get them off the streets,” said State Representative Courtney Combs, who serves as chairman of the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “I’m very pleased by the House’s passage of this bill because it will help bring to justice those who commit violence against law enforcement and keep our communities safer.”

Senate Bill 258 will now be sent to Governor Kasich for his signature.

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July 12, 2011

Grossman Introduces CPR Training Legislation

At a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse, State Representative Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) today unveiled legislation that will require teenagers to complete CPR training prior to obtaining an Ohio driver’s license.

Specifically, House Bill 283 will require an individual less than 18 years of age who is applying for a driver’s license to first complete a first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training course. He or she would have to present evidence of having successfully completed a first-aid and CPR course approved by the registrar within one year preceding the date the person first applies for a driver’s license.

“The American Heart Association recently called for mandatory CPR training for teenagers before graduating from high school,” Grossman said. “This training will allow young people to practice proper technique and give them a skill for a lifetime to put to use saving people’s lives.”

The rules governing the training of CPR and first-aid courses will be in accordance with training courses certified by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or other nationally recognized first-aid and CPR standards.

The registrar will also make available a list of organizations that offer the approved first-aid and CPR classes. These new required classes may be offered by driver’s education schools, high schools, firefighters, private classes, or others as long as they are certified courses.

House Bill 283 has received the support of the Fire Chief’s Association, the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

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July 7, 2011

Rep. Sears is featured on Ohio in Focus

Rep. Barbara Sears is featured on an episode of Ohio in Focus.

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June 28, 2011

Ohio House Passes Legislation Prohibiting Texting While Driving

The Ohio House of Representatives today passed legislation to prohibit driving a vehicle while using an electronic communications device to write, send or read a text-based communications.

House Bill 99, sponsored by State Representative Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont), also establishes certain exemptions to the prohibition, including a person using an electronic communications device for emergency purposes and a person driving a public safety vehicle who uses such a device in the course of the person’s duties.

“Texting while driving is a danger that has affected many within our communities,” Damschroder said. “We took an important step today toward addressing this issue and making our roads and highways safer.”

Additionally, House Bill 99 provides that for the first six months after the effective date of the bill, no ticket, citation or summons may be issued for a violation of the new prohibition established by the bill. During this time, only a warning may be issued that provides information about the prohibition.

The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

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June 1, 2011

Gonzales announces passage of legislation to protect Ohio health care workers

State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) today announced the passage of Substitute House Bill 62 from the Ohio House of Representatives.

Sub. House Bill 62, which Gonzales introduced in January, strives to protect nurses, health care professionals and other health care workers from on-duty assaults. It increases the potential penalty for the offense of assault to a fourth-degree felony if the victim is engaged in the performance of his or her duties at a hospital when attacked.

“As lawmakers, it is important that we take a stand against the violent assaults that nurses often face on a day-to-day basis,” Gonzales said. “This is a multi-faceted issue with many different strategies for addressing it, but House Bill 62 is a critical first step toward finding a lasting solution that protects Ohio’s nurses and others who work in health care.”

Currently, the Ohio Revised Code makes the assault of a police officer, firefighter, EMS worker or teacher a felony that carries increased penalties. However, there are no such protections for Ohio’s health care workers, who experience the greatest number of assaults in all practice settings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A 2006 survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association found that 86 percent of emergency room nurses had experienced violence on the job during the preceding three-year period. More than 25 percent of respondents experienced 20 or more violent incidents—including being hit, punched, shoved, scratched, kicked or spat upon—during that same period.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that each year, nearly 500,000 nurses are victims of violent crimes in the workplace. While patients themselves are often the perpetrators, family members and visitors are also likely to be the offenders.

Sub. House Bill 62 passed by a vote of 85-12 and will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.


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May 19, 2011

Rep. Bob Peterson featured on Ohio in Focus

Rep. Bob Peterson is featured on Ohio in Focus.

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April 13, 2011

Legislation to improve emergency preparedness passes Ohio House

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.

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March 17, 2011

Batchelder applauds crackdown on pill mills

Just two weeks after the Ohio House’s passage of House Bill 93—which, among other objectives, will address the rampant prevalence of “pill mills”— the Portsmouth and Plymouth offices of Dr. James Lundeen were raided by local and state agents who believe that the doctor has consistently overprescribed prescription drugs. According to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Lundeen is responsible for 61 percent of all Scioto County narcotics prescriptions in the BWC system.

In response to the swift action taken to make Ohio’s communities safer, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“For too long, our communities and families have been poisoned by prescribers who overmedicate their patients or are more concerned about making a few bucks than keeping their patients healthy. We’ve watched as our neighbors and their sons and daughters became affected by this scourge that has reached across this great state, and watched as these instances moved closer and closer to home.

“The investigation into Dr. Lundeen’s office is a powerful first step toward reducing the threat of prescription drug abuse and overdose death. I applaud the quick action of all the state and local officials who responded to this particular individual’s abuse of authority. I truly believe that they helped to save lives throughout Ohio.”

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February 25, 2011

Kozlowski and Carey: Bipartisan Support Shows Necessity of Calamity Days Bill

State Representatives Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) and John Carey (R-Wellston) announced that House Bill 36, which increases the number of school calamity days in Ohio, passed from the House Education Committee by a unanimous vote of 23-0.

House Bill 36 restores the number of excusable calamity days to five, which would take effect immediately and allow 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.

“The state of Ohio is notorious for having unpredictable and hazardous winter weather, which is why we need to give local districts the freedom and flexibility to decide for themselves whether or not to cancel classes for safety reasons,” said Kozlowski, who previously served as president of the Pymatuning Valley Board of Education and currently serves on the Education Committee. “Up in my hometown and the 99th District, we certainly do not get the same amount of snow as Columbus or other corners of the state, and this bill provides much-needed sensitivity to each school district’s needs and concerns.”

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 are now excused beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, and many districts have already used all available calamity days because of recent snow storms.

“I’m very pleased that so many of my House colleagues voted in support of this legislation in committee, because this is an issue of public safety for our state’s children, educators and school personnel,” said Rep. Carey. “It is of the utmost importance that we empower our local school districts and give them the tools to make their own decisions about the dangers of driving in snowy or icy conditions.”

With House Bill 36 receiving strong bipartisan support in the Education Committee, the legislation will now move to the House floor for a vote.

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