House activity
The House passed Senate Bill (SB) 310 by a vote of 87-8. The bill, which originally provided for the distribution of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to local subdivisions and businesses, was amended Wednesday in the House Finance Committee. The committee amended the bill by adding capital reappropriations for certain agencies, including the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, for the biennium ending June 30, 2022. Additionally, the amendment expanded the list of projects and allows the director of the Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) to freeze state employee pay increases for fiscal year (FY) 2021, among other changes. On the House floor, the bill was further amended to allow local governments additional flexibility to address budget problems.

The House also passed House Bill (HB) 680 by a vote of 61-35. The bill prohibits any public official from causing an election to be conducted other than in the time, place and manner prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code. It also reduces the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by four days and directs the secretary of state office’s use of federal CARES Act funds.

Senate activity
The Senate passed SB 308 by a vote of 24-9. The bill provides immunity from civil liability for health care providers providing services during and after a government-declared disaster or emergency due to COVID-19. The substitute bill accepted in the Senate Judiciary Committee clarified that the bill includes K-12 schools.

The Senate also passed Senate Continuing Resolution 13 by a vote of 22-11. The resolution states that no branch of government, be it executive, legislative or judicial, nor any subordinate department, agency or entity thereof, may take or otherwise promulgate actions that exceed its authority to do so as expressly granted under the Ohio Constitution or United States Constitution.

Senate Finance Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 313, sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which requires an additional state payment in FY 2020 or FY 2021 to certain school districts that experience a specified decrease in the taxable value of the district’s utility tangible personal property. OSBA, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators provided proponent testimony. Click here to read the testimony.

Several administrators offered testimony, including:

The committee also passed SB 316, which makes capital reappropriations for certain agencies, including the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, for the biennium ending June 30, 2022.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee passed HB 367, 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 the Ohio Department of Education.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 465, sponsored by Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which authorizes the creation of school zones around preschool education programs that are operated by an ESC that is located on a street or highway with a speed limit of 45 mph or more.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 532, sponsored by Reps. Tom Brinkman (R-Mount Lookout) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati), which requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards for mental health education and to permit school districts to include mental health education in their curriculum.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended HB 541, which revises the process for adjusting property values due to instances that result in injury or destruction to the property. The amendment changes the language in the bill back to current law that allows two disinterested persons who are residents in the township or municipal corporation to report damage instead of just the owner. It also restores the current law provision maintaining the $100 limit by which property valuation deductions may be made in cases of destruction or injury.

House Finance Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 670, which makes capital reappropriations for certain agencies, including the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, for the biennium ending June 30, 2022.

The committee amended HB 13, which establishes the residential broadband expansion program. The amendments revise the challenge process and address issues related to electric cooperatives and railroad rights-of-way.

House Insurance Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 679, sponsored by Reps. Mark Fraizer (R-Newark) and Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), which establishes and modifies requirements regarding the provision of telehealth services of school psychologists, speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, among others.

House State and Local Government Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 671, sponsored by Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), which limits the authority of local boards of health to issue orders under certain circumstances.

Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 308, which provides workers’ compensation or disability retirement for peace officers, among others, who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder arising from employment without an accompanying physical injury.

The committee held a third hearing on SB 293, which creates a procedure within the court of claims to hear complaints alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani 6/05/2020