Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the reopening plan for child care centers and day camps. Click here for the child care guidance document and click here for the day camp guidance document.

House activity
The House passed House Bill (HB) 111 by a vote of 80-14. The bill requires public and private schools to transmit a transferred student's records within five school days.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 322, which revises the Ohio Teacher Residency Program. Click here to read the changes made by the committee.

The committee amended and passed HB 409, which modifies student attendance requirements at certain e-schools. The amendment clarifies that parents' communication with e-school teachers qualifies as communication with the school for documentation of absences and would also clarify that the definition of "on pace" will be determined in the formal policy determined by the e-school for the student who is attending. Additionally, the bill was amended to explicitly state that the current 72-hour rule remains in place.

House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 83, sponsored by Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) and Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), which allows images captured by a camera installed on a school bus to be used as corroborating evidence for the offense of failing to stop for a school bus. OSBA, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials and Buckeye Association of School Administrators provided proponent testimony. Click here to read that testimony.

The committee passed HB 208, which increases the penalty for assault if the victim is acting as a sports official or the assault is committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official.

The committee amended Senate Bill (SB) 10, which increases the penalty for theft in office when the value of property or services stolen is $150,000 or more. Click here to read the changes made by the committee.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee  passed HB 255 after accepting a substitute version of the bill. The bill requires the state’s tax expenditure report to include information on property tax exemptions and requires a periodic review of each property tax exemption. The substitute version now excludes tangible personal property from being included in the report.

The committee held a first hearing on HB 541, sponsored by Rep. Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek), which revises the process for adjusting property values due to instances that result in injury or destruction to the property, and increases from $100 to $1,000 the limit by which property valuation deductions may be made in cases of destruction or injury.

The committee held a first hearing on HB 609, sponsored by Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton), which requires the Tax Commissioner to administer a temporary amnesty program from Aug. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, with respect to delinquent state taxes and fees.

House Higher Education Committee
The committee held a first hearing on SB 181, sponsored by Sen. William P. Coley, II (R-Liberty Township), which requires the Chancellor of Higher Education to create a template for workforce-education partnership programs.

Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee
The committee held a first hearing on HB 308, sponsored by Rep. Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville), which provides workers' compensation or disability retirement for peace officers, among others, who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder arising from employment without an accompanying physical injury.

The committee held a second hearing on SB 248, sponsored by Schaffer, which extends until November 30, 2022, the moratorium on the requirement for storm shelters to be constructed for new school construction projects. OSBA, the Ohio Association of Business Officials and Buckeye Association of School Administrators provided proponent testimony.

Several board members and administrators offered testimony:

The committee held a first hearing on SB 293, sponsored by Sens. Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township), which creates a procedure within the Court of Claims to hear complaints alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Law.

Third Grade Reading Guarantee
The State Board of Education passed a resolution urging the General Assembly to waive the requirement that the State Board increase the promotion score for the third grade English language arts assessment, part of the third grade reading guarantee, for the 2020-21 school year due to the pandemic. 

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education released new information regarding students in foster care and home schooling.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani 05/15/2020