General Assembly activity
The General Assembly sent House Bill (HB) 491 to the governor for his signature. The bill extends the two alternative high school graduation pathways to the classes of 2019 and 2020 that were previously afforded to the class of 2018 only. Modifications were made to the pathways for the class of 2020. The bill also includes language from HB 705, which exempts treasurers from liability for certain cases in which loss of public funds occur. Click here for a description of the graduation changes.
HB 338 also is on its way to the governor. The bill qualifies licensed chiropractors and medical professionals listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to perform an annual physical on school bus drivers.
Senate activity
The Senate passed HB 291 by a vote of 29-0, sending it back to the House for a concurrence vote. The bill allows school districts, among others, to purchase an “employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy” instead of individual surety bonds for officers, employees and appointees who are otherwise required to give a bond.
The Senate also passed HB 58 by a vote of 27-2, sending it back to the House for a concurrence vote. The bill requires the Ohio Department of Education to include supplemental instructional materials on cursive handwriting in the English language arts model curriculum.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee conducted a fifth hearing on HB 343, which requires a board resolution for each property valuation challenge; prohibits challenges on residential property, but still allows counter-complaints; increases the threshold for filing counter-complaints from $50,000 to $100,000; and requires naming the properties and property owners that will be challenged.
The following offered opposition testimony to the bill:
• Michael Sobul, treasurer, Granville EV
• Jeffrey J. Dornbusch, treasurer, Port Clinton City
• Jeffrey S. McCuen, treasurer, Worthington City
• Kerri L. Johnson, treasurer, Anthony Wayne Local (Lucas)
• Ryan Stechschulte, treasurer, Toledo City
• Bill Wade, superintendent, Kirtland Local (Lake)
• Dr. Michael P. Hanlon Jr., superintendent, Chardon Local (Geauga)
Click here to access their testimony.
House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committed conducted a fourth hearing on HB 591, which revises the state report card rating system for school districts and public schools. The following offered proponent testimony to the bill:
• Dr. Neil Gupta, director of secondary education, Worthington City
• Diane Agnes, principal, Columbus City
• Donna O’Connor, teacher, Dublin City
• Daryl G. Kubilus Jr., superintendent, Cloverleaf Local (Medina)
• Robert Winton, principal, Rocky River City
• Monica Asher, principal, Chagrin Falls EV
• Thomas Szendrey, principal, North Ridgeville City
Click here to access their testimony.
The committee also conducted sponsor testimony on the following bills:
• House Joint Resolution 15, sponsored by Reps. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Thomas West (D-Canton), which would propose a statewide ballot issue to amend the Ohio Constitution to offer free universal public preschool;
• HB 626, sponsored by Reps. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Fedor, which establishes a temporary moratorium on the creation of new academic distress commissions;
• HB 652, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie D. Howse (D-Cleveland), which evaluates and ranks cities regarding academic supports.
Senate Education Committee
The committee passed the following bills:
• HB 428, which deals with student religious expression in public schools;
• HB 502, which requires certain public school employees to undergo biennial youth suicide awareness and prevention training;
• HB 477, which eliminates nonoperational and outdated provisions related to the Ohio Department of Education and school operations. Prior to passage, an amendment offered to this bill that would expand vouchers was defeated by a vote of 6-5.
Also, during testimony on HB 477, Rena Prabodh Perchinske, board member, Willoughby-Eastlake City, offered proponent testimony on extending the alternative graduation pathways. Click here to access her testimony.