Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 177 by a vote of 33-0. The bill would permit school districts, among others, to use blockchain technology.

The Senate voted not to concur on House changes to Senate Bill (SB) 19 by a vote of 32-1. The bill would establish a property tax exemption for certain property used for wetland mitigation projects. Additionally, the bill would:

  • revise the process for adjusting property values due to instances that result in injury or destruction to the property;
  • expand an existing property tax exemption for fraternal organizations;
  • create an annual report to the legislature on ineligible properties for the homestead tax exemption;
  • require a study of properties that improperly receive the tax homestead exemption;
  • change the current requirement for community schools to file an annual tax exemption form;
  • limit taxing options of the regional transit authority (RTA) in Lucas County.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version and passed SB 229. The bill would do the following:

  • temporarily extend the deadline to April 30, 2022, for a school district to submit a blended learning model to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) for the 2021-22 school year and would require a school district that implements a blended learning model to submit quarterly reports to ODE;
  • require each district to complete and submit within 90 days a remediation plan to address the learning loss students experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and would permit school districts to use an already-submitted extended learning plan or local use funds plan to satisfy the remediation plan;
  • permit a school district to adopt a resolution that provides remote learning to a student whose parent requests remote learning;
  • permit a school that operates an online learning school to allow a quarantined student in a traditional district school to participate in that online learning school during the period of quarantine;
  • exempt districts from retaining a student under the third-grade reading guarantee for the 2021-22 school year but would require the district to consult with the parent on the decision of a principal and reading teacher as to whether a student should be retained;
  • prohibit the use of the chronic absenteeism measure on the state report card for the 2021-22 school year;
  • add two school district superintendents and a school principal to the state report card review committee but specifies that they must represent urban, suburban and rural school districts;
  • add a representative from a community school to the state report card review committee;
  • require ODE to calculate an adjusted four-year graduation rate for those students who were continuously enrolled in the same district or building in grades nine-12;
  • exempt an online learning school from the current law requirement that school administrators develop an emergency management plan for each building under their control;
  • require a public school to integrate the study of economic and financial literacy into one or more existing social studies credits or into the content of another class for students graduating between 2022-2025;
  • require EdChoice and Cleveland vouchers payments to be distributed to a student’s guardian, legal custodian or caregiver if the student doesn’t live with their parent;
  • update the timing of Cleveland voucher payments to match EdChoice voucher payments;
  • make a change to the funding base used to determine state funding to an educational service center.

The substitute bill changes are incorporated in the above bill text. OSBA, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators provided proponent testimony. Click here to read the testimony.

The committee held a second hearing on HB 333, sponsored by Reps. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Andrea White (R-Kettering), which would require the state to recommend a job description for school counselors. The bill also would require public schools to consider those recommendations when preparing job descriptions and assigning duties for school counselors. Additionally, HB 333, would require the designation of a school counselor liaison at ODE.

The committee held sponsor testimony 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 held a second hearing on SB 248, sponsored by Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), which would require, rather than permit, school districts to provide a moment of silence each school day.

The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 233, sponsored by Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township), which would require the State Board of Education to adopt licensure rules for school nurses and school nurse wellness coordinators and require membership in the state retirement system.

The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 240, sponsored by Sen. Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House), which would establish a process that would allow the merger of one or more community schools and nonprofit operators into a community school network.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 126, which requires school boards to pass a resolution approving a property valuation complaint or counter-complaint prior to filing that complaint. The bill also would require the school board to send written notice to the property owner indicating the intent to file a complaint or counter-complaint. OSBA, OASBO, BASA, the Alliance for High Quality Education, the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities and the Ohio Township Association provided opponent testimony. Click here to read the testimony. Providing opponent testimony were:

House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 99, which would expressly state that the intent of the bill is to overrule the decision of the Ohio Supreme Court in Gabbard v. Madison Local School Dist. Bd. Of Edn. The bill also would require a school district to provide public notification if the school district authorized one or more persons to go armed within a school. Additionally, the bill would establish requirements for a person authorized to go armed within a school safety zone and establish training requirements. The amendment clarifies that a school district may require additional training.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 458, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would eliminate the August special election, except in instances when the August special election is to nominate or elect candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and would allow a school district whose entire territory is located within the congressional district that is on the August ballot to put certain levies on the August ballot.

The committee amended HB 45, which would require the state tax commissioner to administer a temporary amnesty program from April 1, 2021, through May 31, 2021, with respect to delinquent state taxes and fees. The amendment changes the effective date to start on July 1, 2022 and would include local sales and use taxes.

Senate Finance Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 152, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which would establish the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Task Force that investigates public officials, private persons and entities of fraud, waste and abuse or attempted fraud, waste and abuse of public funds.

House Public Utilities Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 450, sponsored by Reps. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester) and Laura Lanese (R-Grove City), which would allow for the development of community solar projects.

Senate Health Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 122, which would establish and modify requirements regarding the provision of telehealth services of school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, occupational assistants and physical therapy assistants, among others. The substitute bill adds behavior analysts, allows school psychologists licensed under rules adopted by ODE and removes pharmacists. The bill also modifies provisions related to Medicaid, prohibits a health care professional from charging certain fees to a patient and allows a physician to use telehealth when conducting a patient examination to recommend medical marijuana. Finally, the substitute bill clarifies that the intent of the bill is to maintain the level of access and standard of care that was established through telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 186, sponsored by Sens. George F. Lang (R-West Chester) and Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), which would permit the General Assembly to adopt a concurrent resolution that would require the attorney general to challenge an executive order from the president or a federal agency rule.

Ohio Department of Education
ODE released guidance on Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid and Student Wellness and Success Funds. Click here for a link to the information.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 11/12/2021