Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 606. The bill 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. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.
Additionally, DeWine signed HB 272. The bill expands court jurisdiction; prohibits a public official from changing the time, place or manner of conducting an election; and prohibits a public official from ordering the closure of all places of worship in a geographic area. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.
Senate Education Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 436, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester), which requires professional development for screening and intervention for children with dyslexia; requires school districts to establish structured literacy certification procedures; and requires districts to employ specified ratios of structured literacy certified teachers.
The committee held a second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 358, sponsored by Sens. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which changes education law for the 2020-21 school year to provide school districts continued flexibility and relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chair Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) distributed multiple amendments suggested by the Ohio Department of Education that currently do not have a legislative vehicle. The proposed amendments include clarifying that schools must administer the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) while detailing exceptions and specifying that the KRA may not be administered remotely. Specifying that schools must administer diagnostic assessments, while detailing exceptions and indicating that districts are to be held harmless for the K-3 literacy component of the report card in 2020-21, if diagnostic assessment were unable to be administered. Allowing districts to waive the requirement to administer the fall third-grade English Language Arts assessment. Extending the state superintendent’s authority to move or waive deadlines for the 2020-21 school year. Specifying that health screenings for K-1 should be administered, while detailing exemptions. Interested party testimony was offered by Jim Cook, board member, St. Clairsville-Richland City.
Lastly, the committee held a second hearing on SB 350, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Powell), which prohibits school districts from providing transit passes for public transportation to students enrolled in grades K-8 for the 2020-21 school year and requires the Ohio Department of Education to deduct district payments for noncompliance. Opponent testimony was offered by Loren Johnson, director of pupil transportation services, Cincinnati Public.
Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 347, sponsored by Sen. Nathan H. Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which modifies Ohio’s campaign finance laws regarding independent expenditures from corporations and labor organizations and modifies political action committees.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 680, sponsored by Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), which prohibits any public official from causing an election to be conducted other than at the time, place and manner required under law; to reduce the deadline to apply for an for absentee ballot by four days; and to direct the secretary of state’s use of federal CARES Act funds.
Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee held a sixth hearing on SB 16, which requires public high schools to instruct students in proper interactions with peace officers during traffic stops and other encounters.
Posted by Nicole Piscitani 9/18/2020