Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine this week expressed his intent to continue the state’s $675 million investment in Student Wellness and Success Funds (SWSF). DeWine said his next executive budget proposal would appropriate the same amount of money or more in SWSF. “This will be a high priority when we get into the next budget,” DeWine told reporters. “So I think local schools are in a pretty good position to assume that that money is going to be steady, a steady flow of money out into the future.”

General Assembly activity
The legislature concluded its business for 2019, leaving work to come in 2020 on vouchers, report cards, academic distress commissions and more. Both chambers have scheduled committee hearings beginning Jan. 21. The Senate’s earliest scheduled session date is an “if-needed” session on Jan. 15 and an official session scheduled on Jan. 22. Meanwhile, the House’s earliest session date is an “if-needed” session on Jan. 28 and an official session scheduled on Jan. 29.

Before wrapping up its work, the legislature sent House Bill (HB) 2 to the governor for his signature. The bill permits a collaboration of school districts, among others, to partner with industry sectors in order to be eligible for state grants to assist with hiring employees, developing curricula and educational resources and marketing workforce partnerships.

State Board of Education activity
OSBA and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials presented to the State Board of Education an explanation of short-term legislative solutions to the state's voucher program. Click here to watch the testimony, and click here to read the solutions. 

House activity
The House passed HB 75 by a vote of 54-39. The bill 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. It now goes to the Senate.

Senate activity
The Senate passed HB 4 by a vote of 31-0. The bill requires the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation to act as a liaison between the business community and the Ohio Department of Education or the chancellor of higher education with regard to industry-recognized credentials or certificate programs. The bill returns to the House for a concurrence vote.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on:
• Senate Bill (SB) 89, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), which revises the law regarding career-technical education and joint vocational school districts.
• HB 409, sponsored by Rep. J. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), which modifies student attendance requirements at certain e-schools.

The committee also held third hearings on:
• HB 322, which revises the Ohio Teacher Residency Program.
• HB 367, which requires the state to recommend a job description for school counselors; requires public schools to consider those recommendations when preparing job descriptions and assigning duties for school counselors; and requires the designation of a school counselor liaison at the Ohio Department of Education.

Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 76, which modifies the form of election notices and ballot language for property tax levies. OSBA jointly testified in opposition to the bill with the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), Ohio Library Council, Ohio Township Association and Ohio Association of Parks and Recreation. Click here to read the testimony.

The committee also held a sixth hearing on HB 46, which creates a state government expenditure database that includes school district employee salary and employment information.

Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee held first hearings on:
• SB 244, sponsored by Sen. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem), which requires fiscal officers of school districts, among other political subdivisions, to provide certificates of transition to their successors when leaving office.
• HB 119, sponsored by Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township), which revises the law regarding distracted driving and texting while driving, and applies enhanced penalties to motorists who illegally pass a school bus and do so in a distracted manner.

Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee
The committee held a first hearing on SB 179, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark), which requires the display of two license plates on vehicles. OSBA, BASA and OASBO testified in support of the bill, a copy of which can be accessed here.

House Civil Justice Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 370, which allows the Ohio attorney general to defend school districts, among others, in actions brought against them for maintaining a historical symbol or monument on public property as violating the United States or Ohio Constitution’s guaranty of the free exercise of religion.

Posted by Will Schwartz on 12/13/2019