Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 17 by a vote of 32-0. The bill allows an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty. The bill will now be sent to the governor.

The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 16 by a vote of 31-1. The bill, which was amended and passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requires public high schools to instruct students in proper interactions with peace officers during traffic stops and other encounters. The amendment provides flexible language for high school curriculum to be less like a law school class, among other changes. The bill now moves to the House.

The Senate passed SB 34 by a vote of 32-0. The bill revises school employment policies and revises procedures regarding educator licensure and conduct. The bill now moves to the House.

Finally, the Senate passed SB 311 by a vote of 20-12. The bill prohibits the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) from issuing a general, mandatory statewide or regional quarantine or isolation order that applies to and is enforced against individuals who have not been either directly exposed to or medically diagnosed with the disease that is the subject of the order; and allows the General Assembly to adopt a concurrent resolution to rescind certain ODH orders or rules for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases. The bill now moves to the House.

Senate Education Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 342, sponsored by Sens. Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) and Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), which requires students who enter the ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2021, to earn at least one-half unit of instruction in the study of financial literacy.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 436, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester), which requires professional development for screening and intervention for children with dyslexia; requires school districts to establish structured literacy certification procedures; and requires districts to employ specified ratios of structured literacy-certified teachers.

The committee held a third hearing on SB 358, which changes education law for the 2020-21 school year to provide school districts continued flexibility and relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proponent testimony was offered by Toledo City board member Chris Varwig.

Lastly, the committee held a third hearing on SB 350, which prohibits school districts from providing transit passes for public transportation to students enrolled in grades K-8 for the 2020-21 school year and requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to deduct district payments for noncompliance.

Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 680, which prohibits any public official from causing an election to be conducted other than at the time, place and manner required under law; to reduce the deadline to apply for an for absentee ballot by four days; and to direct the secretary of state’s use of federal CARES Act funds.

Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 352, sponsored by Sen. Kristina D. Roegner (R-Hudson), which repeals 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 HB 75, sponsored by Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township), which requires school boards to pass a resolution approving a property valuation complaint or counter-complaint prior to filing that complaint and also send written notice to the property owner indicating intent to file a complaint or counter-complaint.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 450, sponsored by Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), which requires fiscal officers of school districts, among other local governments, to provide certificates of transition to their successors when leaving office and modifies the duties of school district treasurers to ensure delivery to a treasurer’s successor all papers related to the affairs of the district.

Finally, the committee held a third hearing on HB 119, which grants municipal and county courts original and exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action concerning a traffic law violation; modifies certain requirements governing the use of traffic law photo-monitoring devices by a local authority; and makes corrective changes to the distracted driving and texting-while-driving law.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended HB 609, sponsored by Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton), which requires the state tax commissioner to administer a temporary amnesty program from Jan. 1, 2021, to Mar. 31, 2021, with respect to delinquent state taxes and fees. The amendments move the tax amnesty program to Apr. 1, 2021, through May 31, 2021, and provides temporary funding for the program. Additionally, the amendment excludes domestic and foreign insurance premium taxes.

Senate Health Committee
The committee accepted a substitute bill on HB 210, which requires ODE-licensed preschool programs and other entities to screen and test prospective employees for tuberculosis and annually test certain employees for a five-year period. The substitute bill provided clarifying language for when a preschool employee can return to work by indicating that the person is no longer infectious, and the substitute bill added privacy changes and removed repetitious language.

State Board of Education
Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria and ODE budget chief Aaron Rausch gave a presentation on draft budget scenarios for submission to the Office of Budget and Management. The board is scheduled to vote on an official budget request at its October board meeting. Click here for a link to the budget presentation.

Ohio Department of Education
ODE released updated information for students experiencing homelessness and identifying and serving students who are gifted.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani 9/25/2020