Senate Finance Committee
The committee conducted several hearings on House Bill (HB) 166, which makes appropriations for the state operating budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, including the school-funding formula. OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) and Ohio Association of School Business Officials offered joint testimony on the tax provisions of the bill, which can be accessed here.

Other school district representatives testified on the bill, including:
• Tasha Sheipline, director of adult programs, Apollo Career Center;
• Larry Weber, adult education financial aid coordinator, Delaware Area Career Center;
• Lathe Moore, director of adult education, Pike County Career Technology Center.

Senate Education Committee
The committee held an informal hearing on a graduation requirements proposal that may be included in the state budget bill. OSBA, BASA and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators offered testimony on the proposal, which can be accessed here.

Several school district and public education representatives testified on the proposal, including:
• Eric Resnick, board member, Canton City;
• Shelly Vaughn, superintendent, Mercer County ESC;
• Dr. Antoinette Miranda, State Board of Education;
• Mark Lamoncha, State Board of Education.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 231, sponsored by Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake). The bill requires the Department of Education to compile and publicize a list of entities that provide free epinephrine autoinjectors and to permit school districts to create training for staff and instruction for students on food allergies and allergic reaction treatment.

The committee also conducted a third hearing on HB 123, which requires public schools implement certain programs regarding suicide awareness and prevention and violence prevention. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.

House Finance Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Sens. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard). The bill adds $100 million to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission budget for eight districts with shovel-ready projects.

The committee also conducted a second hearing on HB 194, sponsored by Reps. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati). The bill legalizes and regulates sports gaming and earmarks a portion of the sports gaming profits for education.

House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 220, sponsored by Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township). It permits school districts, among others, to utilize blockchain technology.

House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
The committee conducted a first hearing on HB 4, sponsored by Reps. Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville) and Phillip M. Robinson Jr. (D-Solon). The bill authorizes the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation to develop an industry-recognized credential or a certificate program in response to a petition from an Ohio employer.

The committee also conducted a second hearing on HB 2, sponsored by Reps. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) and Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown). The bill creates a regional workforce partnership grant program, under which school districts, career centers and others are eligible for grants to partner with employers and requires funds to be used for hiring coordinators, development of curricula or educational resources and marketing.

Posted by Will Schwartz on 5/20/2019