Senate activity
The Senate voted to concur on Senate Bill (SB) 4 by a vote of 21-10. The bill provides $300 million to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for K-12 schools. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.
The Senate passed SB 288 by a vote of 31-0. The bill establishes restrictions on policies that prevent students from wearing religious apparel when competing or participating in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities; 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; and provides civil immunity for schools and school districts, among others.
Senate Education Committee
The committee amended House Bill (HB) 123, which requires public schools to implement certain programs on and provide instruction in suicide awareness and prevention and violence prevention. The amendment removes the requirement for districts to establish student-led violence prevention clubs and instead permits the establishment of such club.
Additionally, an amendment was offered in the committee that would temporarily guarantee a minimum of $1,750 for certain e-schools, the cost of which would be paid by the resident school district. The amendment was not voted on and will be considered at a future committee hearing.
The committee held a second hearing on SB 320, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), which requires school districts to determine whether to open for instruction for the 2020-21 school year; determine what health safety measures and guidelines to implement to address COVID-19; and prohibits other public officials from preventing a school district from opening its schools, causing its schools to close or requiring it to adopt health safety measures and guidelines to address COVID-19. OSBA provided interested party testimony. Click here to read the testimony.
Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on SB 311, which prohibits the governor or any executive agency from prohibiting or limiting in-person high school graduations for the 2019-20 school year; rescinds the April 30 stay-at-home order; and limits all orders issued by the state director of health to 14 days, including the school-closure order, unless approved by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 606, sponsored by Rep. Diane V. Grendell (R-Chesterland), which prohibits bringing a civil action for damages for injury, death or loss to person or property against businesses, the state, local governments and schools, among others, if the cause is due to exposure to COVID-19.
Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released updated information on graduation requirements for high school students for 2021 and beyond. ODE also released updated information on educator licensure and students with disabilities.
Posted by Nicole Piscitani 6/26/2020