House Finance Committee
The committee conducted sponsor testimony on House Bill (HB) 305, sponsored by Reps. Robert R. Cupp (R-Lima) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson), which creates a new school-funding formula.
The committee also held a sixth hearing on HB 194, which legalizes and regulates sports gaming and earmarks 98% of the sports gaming profits for education.
Senate Education Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of Senate Bill (SB) 102 during its third hearing. The bill creates the Dyslexia Screening Program that would require public schools to conduct screenings of specified students and provide intervention services for those displaying risk factors for dyslexia, and to provide parents of identified children with information about dyslexia, certain treatments and services, and to offer services. Click here for a synopsis of the changes made by the substitute bill.
The committee also revised and passed SB 89 during its fourth hearing. The bill revises the law regarding career-technical education and joint vocational school districts. Click here for a synopsis of the changes. The bill also added a provision stating that the academic performance of a district-sponsored STEM school does not count toward that district’s performance on the state report card.
Finally, the committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 123, sponsored by Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which requires public schools to implement certain programs on and provide instruction in suicide awareness and prevention and violence prevention.
House Health Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 321, sponsored by Reps. P. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati), which requires age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 193, sponsored by Reps. Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson), which expands the income tax deduction allowed for contributions to Ohio’s 529 education savings plans to include contributions to 529 plans established by other states. During the hearing, the committee accepted a nonsubstantive, corrective amendment.
House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee passed HB 119, 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.
Posted by Will Schwartz on 10/18/2019