House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee passed House Bill (HB) 360, which deals with suspension and expulsion policies for incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. Prior to passage, the committee adopted an amendment that would permit a district to impose measures it deems appropriate during a student’s suspension or expulsion and would exempt private schools from the bill’s provisions.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 517, sponsored by Reps. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and David Leland (D-Columbus). The bill designates the month of October as “Ohio Principals Month.”
The committee continued to hear testimony on HB 491, which would require the State Board of Education to issue substitute licenses to qualified speech-language pathologists, audiologists, registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers.
The committee also heard testimony on HB 442, which would permit international students possessing an F-1 visa to participate in interscholastic athletics.
Finally, the committee held its third hearing on HB 477, which would eliminate nonoperational and outdated provisions that relate to the Ohio Department of Education and the operation of primary and secondary schools. There were no witnesses present to testify.
House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
The committee continued to hear testimony on HB 512. The bill consolidates the state education agencies and Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation into a new agency called the Department of Learning and Achievement. It also transfers much of the duties and authority of the State Board of Education and superintendent of public instruction to the new agency.
Senate Finance Committee
The committee held its second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 246, sponsored by Sens. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville). The bill deals with positive behavioral intervention supports and suspension and expulsion policies for students in grades prekindergarten through three.
Finally, the committee passed HB 529, which makes capital appropriations and reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2020.
Senate Education Committee
The committee held its second hearing on SB 241, sponsored by Sens. Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati). The bill creates a new category of nonpublic schools called “accredited nonpublic schools” and exempts such schools from certain state requirements.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 66, which establishes the Undergraduate Mission Study Committee to evaluate how each state university contributes to its undergraduate mission.