Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee adopted a substitute version of House Bill (HB) 343 during its fourth hearing. The bill now requires a board resolution for each property valuation challenge; requires naming the properties and property owners that will be challenged; prohibits a challenge on residential property, but still allows counter-complaints; and increases the threshold for filing counter-complaints from $50,000 to $100,000. Click here for a synopsis of the revised version.
Terry Groden, board member, North Olmsted City, submitted opposition testimony to the bill, which can be accessed here. OSBA recently issued an call to action on this bill, which can be accessed here.
The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 342, sponsored by Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township). The bill 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.
Senate Education Committee
Committee Chair Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) indicated that an amendment to extend the alternative graduation pathways to the classes of 2019 and 2020 will be offered for HB 477 at the next week's committee hearing.
The committee also amended and passed HB 58, which now requires the Ohio Department of Education to include supplemental instructional supports in cursive writing in the English language arts model curriculum rather than adopting a new curriculum.
The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 491, sponsored by Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville), which requires the issuance of substitute licenses to qualified speech-language pathologists, audiologists, registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers.
Finally, the committee conducted second hearings on the following bills:
• Senate Bill (SB) 325, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), which revises background check policies and sexual misconduct policies for public and private schools;
• HB 502, sponsored by Rep. Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills), which requires certain public school employees to undergo biennial youth suicide awareness and prevention training;
• HB 428, sponsored by Reps. Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) and Tim Ginter (R-Salem), which deals with student religious expression in public schools;
• HB 477, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), which eliminates nonoperational and outdated provisions related to the Ohio Department of Education and school operations.
House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
The committee conducted a second hearing on HB 705, sponsored by Reps. Stephen D. Hambley (R-Brunswick) and Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati). The bill modifies the circumstances under which treasurers of school districts and ESCs may be held liable for loss of public funds.
The following individuals testified in support of the bill:
• Jim Rowan, executive director, Ohio Association of School Business Officials;
• Maria Rellinger, treasurer, Apollo Career Center.
OSBA and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators also submitted written testimony in support of the bill. Click here to access all copies of the testimony.
House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee conducted sponsor testimony on the following bills:
• HB 734, sponsored by Reps. Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) and P. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin), which pertains to breakfast programs at public schools;
• HB 738, sponsored by Rep. Niraj J. Antani (R-Miamisburg), which requires 25% of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's budget be allocated to ensure all school buildings meet acceptable standards for air conditioning, accessibility and school safety, and to require a study of the status of school buildings regarding air conditioning, accessibility, school safety and other amenities;
• HB 630, sponsored by Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron), which extends the alternative graduation requirements for two additional years.
The committee also conducted a second hearing on SB 82, sponsored by Sens. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) and Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering). The bill requires public schools, within two hours of the start of a school day, to notify the parent of a student who fails to arrive at school and is not excused from attendance.
House Energy and Natural Resources Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 671, sponsored by Rep. John Barnes (D-Cleveland), which requires public schools that do not operate their own public water system to undergo annual testing for lead in school drinking water.
Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee conducted a third hearing on HB 291, which allows school districts, among others, to purchase an “employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy” instead of individual surety bonds for officers, employees and appointees who are otherwise required to give a bond. No witnesses were present to testify.