Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that most health orders will end on June 2, including mask mandates, social distancing and capacity restrictions. Health orders that pertain to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and data collection will not be rescinded. DeWine further stated that business and schools would be allowed to continue any restrictions.
General Assembly activity
The Ohio General Assembly sent House Bill (HB) 6 to DeWine for his approval. The bill would eliminate the requirement for a school nurse to hold a degree in the area of nursing in order for that nurse to be exempt from the current requirement to hold a separate pupil-services license issued by the State Board of Education. The bill also allows pharmacy technician trainees who are enrolled in an approved career-technical school program to apply for state registration.
Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1 by a vote of 32-0. The bill would require students who enter the ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2021, to complete at least one-half unit of instruction in the study of financial literacy.
Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee held a ninth hearing on HB 110, which makes operating appropriations for the fiscal year 2022 and 2023 biennium. Testifying in support of the bill were:
The committee held a third hearing on SB 145, which would revise the state report card.
It held a second hearing on SB 165, sponsored by Sen. Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which would establish a process for the Lorain City School District to be relieved from oversight of its academic distress commission. The bill would require the school board to develop a three-year improvement plan that requires State Board of Education approval. Additionally, the legislation would require the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office to complete a performance audit. Dr. Jeff M. Graham, superintendent, Lorain City, provided proponent testimony.
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 166, sponsored by Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), which would establish the student pathways for career success grant program and would require the state of Ohio to create a program that establishes financial incentives for Ohio businesses to provide work-based learning experiences for students enrolled in career-technical education programs. The bill would permit career-technical schools to use remote or digital learning. Additionally, the legislation would require joint vocational school districts to be included in revenue sharing agreements from a community reinvestment area agreement.
House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 244, which would require K-12 schools to allow military children who are relocating but not yet residents of the district to enroll electronically and participate in technology-based educational opportunities. The amendment provides clarifying language pertaining to technology-based education opportunities; changes when proof of residency is required; and makes changes to school district enrollment requirements, under certain circumstances, when a child’s parent is on active duty.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 73, sponsored by Reps. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus), which would reduce the number of end-of-course exams required for graduation from five to four by requiring a new single American history and government exam beginning with the class of 2024; require school districts to form a working group to evaluate the amount of time students spend on testing; eliminate the requirement for 11th-grade students to take the ACT or SAT; and prohibit student retention under the third-grade reading guarantee.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 105, sponsored by Reps. P. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati), which would require public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and require in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 205, sponsored by Reps. Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) and Michael Sheehy (D-Toledo), which would revise school discipline, bullying and hazing policies at public schools and colleges.
Senate Select Committee on Gaming Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of SB 176, sponsored by Sens. Niraj Antani (R- Miamisburg) and Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which would legalize, regulate and tax sports gaming; prohibit betting on any sport or athletic event for primary or secondary school students; and require that 98% of profits be used for K-12 education. The substitute bill made changes to the licensing requirements.
House State and Local Government Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 285, sponsored by Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), which would allow the Speaker of the House or Senate President to intervene in state and federal court cases that challenge a statute; allow legal representation other than the Attorney General; and would require the Attorney General to obtain legislative approval before compromising or settling an action, in certain circumstances.
Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which would establish the Ohio Mobile Training Team Program that provides basic firearm training programs to school safety designees and includes quarterly training required for continued certification.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 97, sponsored by Sen. Kristina D. Roegner (R-Hudson), which would repeal a provision of law that modified municipal income tax employer withholding rules for COVID-19-related work-from-home employees.
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 140, sponsored by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), which would modify the property tax exemption procedures applicable to community schools.
House Public Utilities Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 118, which creates processes for township voters that may approve or reject the placement of certain wind and solar farms and creates a township referendum vote on certain wind farm and solar facility certificates. The substitute bill permits a board of township trustees to designate energy development districts and creates a grandfather clause for completed applications.
Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 89, sponsored by Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), which would extend the deadline to Dec. 31, 2030 on an application for a property tax exemption for a qualified energy project that uses renewable energy resources.
House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 275, sponsored by Rep. Brian E. Lampton (R-Beavercreek), which would expand school district’s joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 187, sponsored by Kelly and Lipps, which would require an employer to provide earnings and deductions statements to each of the employer's employees.
House Families, Aging and Human Services Committee
The committee passed HB 83, which would make changes to child support laws with regard to caretakers.
Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 5/14/2021