From the Statehouse 2006 No. 03
by Jennifer Garrison
Jan. 28, 2006
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – 2006 ARTICLE 3
Substitute Senate Bill 154 allows a qualified Physician’s Assistant (PA) to write level 3 and 4 prescriptions under the supervision of a physician. The bill also allows a PA to assume increased responsibilities in providing healthcare services.
My hope is that Substitute Senate Bill 154 may result in increased availability of healthcare professionals in rural areas of the state. I believe this legislation will be particularly important in areas like Monroe County where there are few healthcare professionals.
Marietta College was extremely supportive of this legislation as they have a very successful PA program. Currently, 47 other states and the District of Columbia give prescriptive authority to physicians to delegate to physician’s assistants. Today, many PA’s leave Ohio because they are limited in their ability to practice their profession. Substitute Senate Bill 154 changes this fact.
The profession of Physician’s Assistants is the third fastest growing profession. This legislation requires successfully completing a minimum of 65 hours of coursework in pharmacology and clinical training in pharmacology. The bill passed. I voted “yes”.
House Concurrent Resolution 19 encourages the United States to continue humanitarian aid to the Darfur region of Sudan where genocide is perpetrated. Since 2003 between 200,000 to 400,000 people have been killed. The bill encourages, but does not require, Ohio companies, institutions, agencies and political subdivisions of the State of Ohio to divest themselves of interest in any company that conducts business in Sudan. The bill unanimously passed. I voted “yes”.
Amended House Bill 455 allows an employee of a city law director to serve on a school board as long as the law director does not represent the school board. There has been an ambiguity in the current law that came to light when a law director position in Westlake became an elected versus appointed position. This bill clarifies that an employee of an appointed or elected law director can serve on a school board as long as the law director is not the school district attorney. The bill passed. I voted “yes”.
House Bill 276, requires the Ohio Department of Education to develop and adopt a model policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying on school properties. Each school district is then required to adopt an anti-bullying policy for their schools. The State Auditor must conduct an audit of every school district to determine if an anti-bullying policy has been adopted.
House Bill 276 provides civil immunity for employees, students, and volunteers of a school district from damages for reporting bullying incidents. The bill also requires the district administration to notify the president of the school board in writing of all reported incidents. This bill passed. I voted ‘yes”.
House Bill 163 authorizes courts to impose fees on defendants who fail their court ordered drug tests in controlled substance cases. The defendant does not have to reimburse law enforcement for the test if it produces a negative result.
House Bill 163 also allows a juvenile court to order a juvenile offender to pay for any drug tests involved. There is no provision in the bill that says a parent or guardian can be held responsible for payment. This bill passed. I voted “yes”.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at 614-644-8728 or in the district at 740-373-2414 or by e-mail at jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is <a href="/a>