Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 210 by a vote of 29-1. The bill requires preschool programs and other entities licensed by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to screen and test prospective employees for tuberculosis as well as annually test certain employees for a five-year period. The Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee revised the bill on Tuesday with an amendment that pertains to radiation technology professionals and mobile dental facilities.

The Senate passed HB 450 by a vote of 30-0. The bill requires fiscal officers of school districts and other local governments to provide certificates of transition to their successors, and modifies the duties of school district treasurers to ensure delivery to a treasurer’s successor all papers related to the affairs of the district. The bill returns to the House for a potential concurrence vote.

Finally, the Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 372 by a vote of 30-0. The bill creates the Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission that, among other responsibilities, would find opportunities to provide resources for schools to effectively teach about the Holocaust and genocide. The Senate Finance Committee amended the bill to align the definition of genocide with the United Nation’s definition and remove the appropriation.

Governor activity
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Stephanie McCloud signed an amended executive order to extend the 21-day order that requires all persons to stay at home during specified hours. Click here for a link to the signed order.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended SB 95, which requires school boards to pass a resolution approving a property valuation complaint or counter-complaint prior to filing that complaint and also send written notice to the property owner indicating intent to file a complaint or counter-complaint. It also allows tenants of a property who pay the entire amount of taxes charged against the property to challenge their valuation, among other changes. The amendment clarifies the priority and enforcement of certain tax increment financing service payments. OSBA, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) provided opponent testimony. Click here to read the testimony. Testifying in opposition of the bill were:

The committee accepted a substitute version of SB 212, which provides a full or partial tax exemption to developers and owners of newly constructed homes within specified areas during the construction period and for 10 years after the home is occupied. The substitute version limits the specified areas to only a portion of a township and also limits the township to three specified areas. Additionally, the changes limit the duration of the exemption to 10 years that can be renewed every 10 years thereafter.

The committee amended SB 125, which expands the income tax deduction allowed for contributions to Ohio’s 529 college savings plan to include contributions to 529 plans established by other states. The amendment pertains to survivor benefits of safety officers killed in the line of duty.

Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 75, which requires school boards to pass a resolution approving a property valuation complaint or counter-complaint prior to filing that complaint and also send written notice to the property owner indicating intent to file a complaint or counter-complaint. Click here for an analysis of the substitute bill. OSBA, OASBO, BASA and the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities provided opponent testimony. Click here to read the testimony. Testifying in opposition of the bill were:

Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version and passed HB 38, which amends commercial credit reports, the General Loan Law and the Residential Mortgage Loan Law. The substitute version of the bill added modified provisions of HB 751, providing a reduced property valuation for tax years 2020, 2021 and 2022 for eligible individuals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Education Committee
The committee held a fifth hearing on HB 436, which requires professional development for screening and intervention for children with dyslexia. It also requires school districts to establish multisensory structured literacy certification procedures.

The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 388, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), which provides flexibility to school districts regarding educational requirements of substitute teachers for the 2020-21 school year. OSBA, OASBO and BASA provided proponent testimony. Click here to the read the testimony. Testifying in support of the bill:

The committee held a second hearing on HB 111, sponsored by Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), which requires public and private schools to transmit a transferred student's records within five school days. Board members testifying in support of the bill were:

The committee accepted a substitute version of SB 121, which requires the State Board of Education to develop K-12 health education standards and revises the law regarding venereal disease education standards and curriculum. The substitute version clarifies school district discretion to develop standards and curriculum and changes the terminology from venereal disease education to sexual education, among other changes.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 310, sponsored by Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake), which revises school discipline, bullying and hazing policies at public schools and colleges.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 409, sponsored by Rep. J. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), which modifies student attendance requirements at certain e-schools.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 367, sponsored by Reps. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield), which requires the state to recommend a job description for school counselors; requires public schools to consider those recommendations when preparing job descriptions and assigning duties for school counselors; and requires the designation of a school counselor liaison at ODE.

Finally, the committee held a third hearing on SB 342, which requires students who enter the ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2021, to earn at least one-half unit of instruction in the study of financial literacy.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee passed HB 321, which requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and requires in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 549, sponsored by Reps. Jeffrey Crossman (D-Parma) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which amends the operation, management and accountability of community schools.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 577, sponsored by Reps. Joseph A. Miller III (D-Amherst) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), to dissolve existing academic distress commissions, place a moratorium on the creation of academic distress commissions and establish the School Transformation Board to oversee school improvement efforts.

The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 317, sponsored by Sen. William P. Coley II (R-Liberty Township), which expressly exempts the requirement that peace officer basic training be obtained by certain employees whom a board of education authorizes to be armed in a school safety zone.

House State and Local Government Committee
The committee amended SB 331, sponsored by Sen. Kristina D. Roegner (R-Hudson), which sunsets the academic standards review committees in English, math, social studies and science, among other committees and councils, and requires a Sunset Review Committee to be convened during each General Assembly. The amendment removes the Criminal Sentencing Advisory Committee.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 398, sponsored by Reps. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland), which establishes the day of each November general election as a legal holiday and provides paid leave to public school employees and other government employees for that day.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 466, sponsored by Sweeney, which creates an automated voter registration system and requires public schools to provide electronic records to the Secretary of State concerning each person who reaches age 16, 17 or 18.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 517, sponsored by Sweeney, which explicitly exempts building and fire codes from certain rule review requirements.

Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 46, which creates a state government expenditure database that includes school district employee salaries and employment information. Click here for a synopsis of the amendments.

The committee amended SB 246, which requires an occupational licensing authority to issue a license or government certification to an applicant who holds a license, government certification or private certification or has satisfactory work experience in another state under certain circumstances.

The committee held a second hearing on SB 384, sponsored by Sen. Bob D. Hackett (R-London), which amends compensation, medical benefits and disability retirement for peace officers, among others, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder arising from employment without an accompanying physical injury.

House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 613, sponsored by Reps. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) and Stephanie D. Howse (D-Cleveland), which requires school districts to provide instruction on proper interactions with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

House Health Committee
The committee held a second hearing on House Concurrent Resolution 25, sponsored by Reps. Upchurch and Thomas West (D-Canton), which urges the governor to declare a state of emergency on childhood trauma in Ohio.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani 12/11/2020