Budget activity
The Senate Finance Committee accepted a substitute version of Substitute House Bill (HB) 110, which makes operating appropriations for the fiscal years (FY) 2022 and 2023 biennium. The substitute version of the bill removes the Fair School Funding Plan and inserts a new school-funding formula. Click here to read the comparison document outlining the education-related changes. Click here for school district simulations. Click here for joint vocational school district simulations. OSBA, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators provided interested-party testimony. Click here to read the testimony. Providing additional testimony were:

Thomas L. Hosler II, superintendent, Perrysburg EV;
Ryan Pendleton, treasurer, Akron City;
Dr. Philip Wagner, superintendent, Licking Heights Local (Licking);
Todd Griffith, treasurer, Licking Heights Local (Licking).

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law HB 170. The bill, which takes immediate effect, provides state appropriation authority for schools to receive the funding provided by Congress through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to receive approval from the Controlling Board before spending ODE’s allocated funds; and permits the state auditor to audit ODE and school districts on the funding appropriated by the bill; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act; the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020; and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed an order rescinding the director’s order requiring the use of facial coverings in child education settings. Click here for a link to the signed order.

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 52 by a vote of 20-13. The bill would permit a board of county commissioners to designate energy development districts (EDD) that would limit where wind and solar facilities can be constructed and creates a process for voters that may approve or reject the placement of the EDD. The bill also allows a board of county commissioners to adopt a resolution prohibiting the construction of any wind or solar facility.

Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee passed SB 181, sponsored by Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green), which would establish restrictions on policies that prevent students from wearing religious apparel when competing or participating in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities; permit certain officials to limit the wearing of religious apparel if a legitimate danger to participants is identified but requires an administrator or official to offer all reasonable accommodations; and provide civil immunity for schools and school districts, among others.

The committee accepted a substitute version of SB 165, which would establish a process for the Lorain City School District to be relieved from oversight of its academic distress commission (ADC). The amendment allows East Cleveland City and Youngstown City to create an academic improvement plan to phase out of ADC control. The substitute bill grants approval authority to the superintendent of public instruction instead of the State Board of Education as under the previous version. Additionally, the legislation would require the Auditor of State’s Office to complete a performance audit.

The committee held a third hearing on SB 166, which would establish the student pathways for career success grant program and 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.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 244, sponsored by Reps. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Brian E. Lampton (R-Beavercreek), 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 committee held a fifth hearing on SB 145, which would revise the state report card.

Senate Select Committee on Gaming Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on SB 176, 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.

Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee
The committee held a fifth hearing on SB 135, which would require school districts to include in career advising policies information on career fields with an associate’s degree and certificates; provide information on 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.

Senate Health Committee
The committee passed HB 252, which would enter Ohio into the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact that increases public access to audiology and speech-language pathology services by mutually recognizing other member state licenses. The legislation would allow for telehealth services if allowable under other state’s licenses.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 176, sponsored by Reps. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would revise the law governing the practice of athletic training by requiring an athletic trainer to practice under a collaboration agreement with a physician or podiatrist. The legislation would allow athletic trainers who have preexisting arrangements with chiropractors to continue these arrangements.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 6/4/2021