Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his State of the State Address and talked about Student Wellness and Success Funds, among other priorities enacted during his first term. DeWine announced new priorities in mental health care, comprehensive investments in Appalachia that may include broadband expansion and workforce training, among other investments. DeWine also announced a potential mentorship and scholarship program for children needing role models and talked about the need to pass House Bill (HB) 283, which would expand prohibitions regarding distracted driving. Click here to read the State of the State Address.

House activity
The House unanimously passed HB 597, sponsored by Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), which would provide capital reappropriations, including approximately $442.8 million for local school construction through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) that received prior conditional approval. Earlier in the week, the House Finance Committee amended the bill to remove language that would have changed OFCC priority for assistance for segmented school facilities projects. The bill now goes to the Senate.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 583, which was later rereferred to the Rules and Reference Committee for referral to the House Finance Committee for further review. The amendment makes the following changes:

  • replaces the short- and long-term substitute teacher licensing provisions with a codified two-year extension of the current temporary law that would sunset after June 30, 2024;
  • establishes a study committee to examine the substitute teacher shortage;
  • appropriates $338 million in fiscal year 2022 to the federal school lunch program.

The committee passed HB 403, which would require school district superintendents to file a report with the ODE regarding a teacher who retired under threat of disciplinary investigation in addition to those who resigned under threat of disciplinary investigation.

The committee held a third hearing on HB 333, which would require the state to recommend a job description for school counselors. The bill also would require public schools to consider those recommendations when preparing job descriptions and assigning duties for school counselors. Additionally, HB 333 would require the designation of a school counselor liaison at the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 426, sponsored by Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester), which would require the placement of automatic external defibrillators in each public and chartered nonpublic school and would require a school board to adopt an emergency action plan and develop a procedure for individuals to report violations.

Senate Local Government and Elections Committee
The committee held a second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 260, sponsored by Sen. George F. Lang (R-West Chester), which would expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services. Testifying as opponents of the bill were:

House Transportation Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 465, which would require the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to notify any school impacted by an additional state highway or a significant change to a state highway or other street or roadway. The bill also would require the ODOT director, or any person preparing a traffic safety study for ODOT, to consider the impact of a proposed project on traffic through a designated school zone and evaluate any increase or decrease of traffic through a designated school zone. Kristina White, community liaison, Springfield Local (Lucas), provided proponent testimony.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 494, sponsored by Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria), which would authorize a municipal corporation, county or township to propose, by resolution, to establish a school adjacent zone on any street or highway located within a half mile of a school. The bill also would require consultation with school administration and the county engineer before adopting the resolution. Robert O. Fischer, superintendent, National Trail Local (Preble), provided proponent testimony.

House Higher Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of SB 135, which would require school districts to include in career advising policies information on career fields with associate degrees and certificates and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and require school districts to adopt a policy on free speech that includes a process for a student or teacher to file a complaint due to a violation of the policy. The substitute version removes the requirement that school districts adopt a policy on free speech. The substitute version also replaces a proposed College Credit Plus subprogram for apprenticeships with language requiring the state superintendent of public instruction, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to develop a proposal to implement a statewide apprenticeship program for high school students. Lastly, the substitute bill modifies an existing property tax exemption for qualified renewable energy facilities to require coordination with JVSDs and career-tech centers, among others, to train individuals for careers in wind or solar energy. Click here to read the comparative synopsis of the substitute bill.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 482, which would create the temporary Tax Fraud Study Commission to report on state income tax fraud. The amendment makes a technical correction and also aligns the appointment process to mirror how other state commissions are appointed.

Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee held a fifth hearing on SB 288, which would update employment laws as they pertain to Head Start agencies along with other changes.

Senate Financial Institutions and Technology Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 230, which would establish a plan to migrate the state’s information technology systems to the state’s computer center and cloud environment and establish a cybersecurity and fraud advisory board.

Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee
The committee amended SB 131, which would require 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 amendment makes several changes to construction licenses, among other changes.

Ohio Department of Education
ODE has the following proposed rule open for public comment:

  • OAC 3301-41-01 Ohio certificate of high school equivalence.

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 3/25/2022