Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 181. The bill establishes restrictions on policies that prevent students from wearing religious apparel when competing or participating in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities. The bill also permits 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. Additionally, the bill provides civil immunity for schools and school districts, among others.

General Assembly activity
The General Assembly sent SB 9 to DeWine for his approval. The bill would require the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and other state agencies to reduce regulatory restrictions by 30% by 2025. The bill was amended on the House Floor to include an appropriation of $9 million to assist local board of elections with administering the May 3 primary election.

House activity
The House unanimously voted not to concur on Senate changes to House Bill (HB) 126. The bill would modify the board of revision process to only allow property owners to file an initial complaint and require a school district, before filing a counter-complaint, to adopt a resolution that includes evidence of another value. The bill also would prohibit a property owner and a school district from entering into a private pay agreement and prohibit a school district from appealing the decision of a board of revision. Additionally, the provisions of the bill would go into effect for complaints filed for tax year 2022. A conference committee likely will be convened to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 by a 25-8 vote. The resolution would urge Congress to make changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow a person under age 16 to be employed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the school year.

Ohio Redistricting Commission
The Ohio Redistricting Commission voted to approve the congressional district maps by a 5-2 vote. The approved maps did not receive bipartisan support, which makes the approved maps effective for only four years. Click here to view the approved maps.

State Board of Education
State Board of Education vice president and member Steve Dackin resigned from the board and applied for the state superintendent of public instruction. Dackin was an appointed member to the board, which means DeWine will appoint a new member.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee heard testimony from Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Stephanie K. Siddens, State Board President Charlotte McGuire, State Board Performance and Impact Committee Chair Paul LaRue and ODE Interim Chief Program Officer Dr. Christopher Woolard on the implementation of the statutory reforms for the state report card. Click here to view the presentation.

The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 583, sponsored by Reps. Adam C. Bird (R-New Richmond) and Don Jones (R-Freeport), which would require SBOE to issue a temporary short-term substitute teaching license to an approved applicant who will teach five or fewer consecutive days in the same classroom. The bill also would require SBOE to issue a temporary substitute teaching license to an approved applicant who will teach six or more consecutive days in the same classroom, if certain requirements are met, and would allow a student teacher to work as a substitute teacher for up to five days. Lastly, the bill would sunset these temporary provisions after June 30, 2025.

Finally, the committee held a second hearing on HB 403, sponsored by Reps. Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Geneva-on-the-Lake) and Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus), which would require school district superintendents to file a report with ODE regarding a teacher who retired under threat of disciplinary investigation in addition to those who resigned under threat of disciplinary investigation.

Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee heard testimony from Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Siddens, State Board President McGuire, State Board Performance and Impact Committee Chair LaRue and ODE Interim Chief Program Officer Woolard on the implementation of the statutory reforms for the state report card. Click here to view the presentation.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended HB 123, which would modify community reinvestment areas (CRAs) by increasing the threshold to exempt school district approval from 50% to 75%. The bill also would establish a revenue-sharing agreement for income over $3 million and annually index the amount to inflation. Additionally, the bill would allow limited home rule townships to use CRAs. The amendment modifies the revenue-sharing agreement for income over $2 million and annually index the amount to inflation, among other changes.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 45, sponsored by Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield), which would require the state tax commissioner to administer a temporary amnesty program from July 1, 2022, through Aug. 31, 2022, with respect to delinquent state, local sales and use taxes and also certain fees.

House Higher Education and Career Readiness 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 associate degrees 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 Judiciary Committee
The committee held a third hearing on SB 288, which would revise laws regarding aggravated rape, aggravated burglary and trespassing and would update employment laws as it pertains to Head Start agencies.

House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 181, which would require a licensing authority, including ODE, to issue an occupational license to an applicant who completes a registered apprenticeship program and prohibit the licensing authority from requiring an examination or higher passing score if not required for other applicants.

House Public Utilities Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on HB 450, which would allow for the development of community solar projects.

House Civil Justice Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 508, sponsored by Reps. West and Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria), which would revise the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities to grant equal time and responsibility for a child.

Senate General Government Budget Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on House Concurrent Resolution 13, sponsored by Reps. J. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) and Creech, which urges Congress to enact The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which would permanently extend daylight saving time.

Senate Agriculture Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 397, which would revise the law regarding agricultural leases.

Senate Financial Institutions and Technology Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 230, sponsored by Reps. Sharon A. Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would establish a plan to migrate the state’s information technology systems to the state’s computer center and cloud environment and establish a cybersecurity and fraud advisory board.

Survey on preschool special education rules
The Ohio ESC Association (OESCA) is requesting that school districts work with their ESCs to complete a survey regarding the impact of the new definition of “integrated classroom” as it pertains to preschool special education rules. Click here for a webinar outlining the issue with the new rules and click here for a PowerPoint presentation that provides detailed information. Additionally, click here for a link to the survey. OESCA is asking its members to work with school districts and the staff that administer preschool programs to complete the survey by March 7.

Ohio Department of Education
ODE has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

  • OAC 3301-24-19 Alternative resident educator licenses for teaching in grades kindergarten to 12
  • OAC 3301-106-01 Community learning center elections
  • OAC 3301-41-01 Ohio certificate of high school equivalence

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 3/04/2022