House Activity
The House passed House Bill (HB) 187, sponsored by Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) and Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), by a 58-26 vote. The bill would modify the procedures used by the tax commissioner to conduct property tax sales-assessment ratio studies. The bill now heads to the Senate. 

The House also unanimously passed HB 74, sponsored by Reps. Hall and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville). The bill 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. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Senate activity
The Senate passed SB 113, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which prohibits a person who fails to comply with the Military Selective Service System from holding a public office or employment with the state. The bill now heads to the House

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 250, sponsored by Reps. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville), which revises the military enlistment diploma seal. The amendment renames the “military enlistment seal” to the “military seal” since the legislation makes students entering U.S. military academies or ROTC programs on scholarship eligible for the seal. 

The committee amended and heard proponent testimony on HB 214, sponsored by Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), which would require each public school to adopt a policy regarding certain expectations related to the performance of staff member professional duties. The amendment eliminates a proposed requirement that a school district’s professional staff policy declare that the board expects all professional staff members to maintain high standards with respect to co-worker relationships and in the performance of the staff member's professional duties. Testifying in support of the bill was Mark K. Neal, superintendent, Tri-Valley Local (Muskingum). 

The committee also held a second hearing on HB 206, sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana), which would permit a school district to establish a policy that authorizes a superintendent to expel a student from a public school for actions that endanger the health and safety of other students or school employees. Testifying in support of the bill were:

Senate Education Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on SB 162, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), which would require public schools to provide certain academic intervention services to each student who demonstrates a limited level in math and English language arts.

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). The bill would make the following changes:

  • Permits a school district to renew its exemption from certain statutory requirements related to every three years, rather than one three-year term only and requires the Department of Workforce and Education (DEW) to notify districts that are eligible about this exemption.
  • Permits school districts to develop and use their own frameworks for teacher evaluation, instead of using a framework developed by the State Board of Education.
  • Modifies license or certificate qualifications for senior or lead professional educators, holders of a professional pupil services license, holders of professional administrator or alternative superintendent licenses, and nonteachers employed as teachers.
  • Eliminates seniority as a preference when making reductions in nonteaching staff positions.
  • Changes certain professional development requirements related to dyslexia training and the coordination of continuing education and professional development.
  • Eliminates a requirement that districts enter supplemental contracts with teachers assigned to teach classes outside the normal school day.
  • Permits a school district to apply for a waiver from dyslexia screening requirements if the district proves that a student previously received a dyslexia screening in the prior school year.
  • Clarifies that a school district is not required to hold a separate, individual public hearing on a proposed school calendar, but that the calendar may be addressed as part of another public hearing or meeting.
  • Removes several policies and programs from the laws governing the Department of Workforce and Education and the State Board of Education that are obsolete.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on SB 153, sponsored by Sens. George Lang (R-West Chester) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would temporarily modify the method for valuing farmland and other real property for tax purposes.

House Higher Education Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 183, sponsored by Reps. Bird and Beth Lear (R-Galena), regarding single-sex bathroom access in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. Testifying in opposition to the bill was:

Senate Health Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 47, sponsored by Reps. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) and Bird, which would require the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in each public and chartered nonpublic school and each public recreational facility. The bill would also require the Ohio Department of Health to develop a model emergency action plan for the use of AEDs.

House Finance Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 164, sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), which establishes the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program. The bill requires the department of education to hire a full-time school foster care liaison and make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 139 sponsored by Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Joseph A. Miller, III (D-Amherst), which would increase the penalties 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.

Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee
The committee amended and passed SB 113, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which prohibits a person who fails to comply with the Military Selective Service System from holding a public office or employment with the state. The amendment exempts from the bill elected or appointed officers created through the Ohio Constitution.

Senate Transportation
The committee heard sponsor testimony on SB 163, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), which creates the "Dublin City Schools" license plate.

State Board of Education
11 of the 19 State Board of Education (SBOE) members still met this week after it was previously announced by the board president, Paul LaRue, that the board would not meet until more details regarding the seven members of the SBOE lawsuit against the state and the creation of the Department of Education and Workforce were ironed out. The board conducted business even though it was unable to livestream via the Ohio Channel and have Ohio Department of Education (ODE) support staff present. The members present created an 18-question questionnaire for all members who were not present. It must be completed and returned to the board before its next scheduled meeting. Some of the key questions include:

  • Why weren’t State Board of Education members consulted before postponing the meeting?
  • Did board leadership advise ODE staff not to attend and support this meeting? If so, why?
  • Who issued the directive that the Ohio Channel not record and make available the Oct. 10 meeting of the State Board of Education and by what authority?

The SBOE is scheduled to meet next on Oct 30. 

Federal update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report which includes education related information.

Posted by Scott Palider on 10/13/2023