House activity
The House passed several bills, sending them to the Senate for consideration. They include:
• House Bill (HB) 342, which requires the ballot wording on property tax proposals to be in terms of tax per $100,000 of fair market value rather than per $100 of tax valuation. The bill passed 61-32.
• HB 58, which requires the State Board of Education to adopt a model curriculum for cursive handwriting instruction for students in grades kindergarten through five. The bill passed 89-4.
• HB 477, which eliminates nonoperational and outdated provisions related to the Ohio Department of Education and school operations. The bill passed 93-0.
House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on the following bills:
• HB 707, sponsored by Reps. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) and Keith Faber (R-Celina). The bill deals with the regulation of e-schools and requires a legislative review of the student enrollment reporting manual for public schools.
• 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.
• HB 680, sponsored by Rep. John Barnes (D-Cleveland). The bill requires school buses to be equipped with occupant restraining devices and designates the third week in October as Safe School Week.
• HB 487, sponsored by Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati). The bill eliminates the right of first refusal for charter schools, STEM schools and college-preparatory boarding schools when acquiring school district property.
The committee also conducted a fourth hearing on SB 216, which would enact the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act dealing with the administration of primary and secondary education programs. The committee expects to accept amendments and vote on the bill at its next hearing.
The committee conducted a second hearing on HB 628, sponsored by Reps. Dick Stein (R-Norwalk) and Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton). The bill creates an alternative pathway for qualifying for a resident educator license.
Finally, the committee conducted a second hearing on HB 544, sponsored by Reps. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) and Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek). The bill prescribes safety enhancement standards for new school facilities.