From the Statehouse 2006 No. 15
by Jennifer Garrison
May. 13, 2006
STATEHOUSE ARTICLE 2006 – 15
I have not submitted a newspaper article regarding legislation for the past couple of weeks because the Ohio House of Representatives has been recessed. This week, a number of bills were passed.
House Concurrent Resolution 30 designates the village of Sunbury, Ohio as the home of the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial Incorporated. The Memorial is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to raising money to construct and maintain a memorial for Ohio soldiers who lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the War on Terror. I voted “yes.” The Resolution passed unanimously.
House Bill 576 provides scholarships for tuition and fees to spouses of members of the United States armed forces who were killed in the line of duty in a combat zone after May 7, 1975. I voted “yes” and am a co-sponsor. The bill passed.
It is a shame we have a need for House Bill 484. Across the nation there have been protests at funerals of soldiers killed while fighting in Iraqi. The protesters posters say horrible statements which I will not repeat. House Bill 484 prohibits picketing or other protest activities within 300 feet of the site of a funeral or burial service, from one hour before to one hour after a funeral service or procession. The bill does not regulate the content of speech in any way and is in response to more than eighty protests staged at the funerals of Iraqi War Veterans across the country, including several occurring recently in Ohio. It is intended to protect a grieving family’s right to privacy. I voted “yes” and am a co-sponsor. The bill passed.
House Bill 422 modifies the current safety regulations for school districts. The bill requires that each district adopt a safety plan which must be submitted to its area law enforcement personnel. The plans must be updated every three years. House Bill 422 requires a blueprint of each school building be filed with the local law enforcement agency. Additionally, one school safety drill must be conducted annually. These drills are in addition to fire and tornado drills. I voted “yes.” The bill passed.
Senate Bill 238 revised the child welfare laws and is in response to the eleven special needs children from Huron County who were placed in cage-like structures by their foster parents. This bill sets up a statewide adoption and child welfare tracking system so counties share information on where adopted and foster children are placed. Today, a couple could have many foster children placed in their home from a number of counties. However, each county has no way to know about the placements outside their own county. I voted “yes.” The bill passed.
Amended Senate Bill 269 offers a tax exemption for companies that donate items to charities. I was a co-sponsor. Currently, if a charity purchases an item from a company it’s exempt from sales tax. However, if the charity donates the same item, the company has to pay a use tax. The bill changes it to make it an exempt transaction. I voted “yes.” The bill passed.
Finally, Substitute House Bill 454 regulates and redefines money transmitting laws in Ohio. The goal of this legislation is to strengthen the state’s homeland security measures. House Bill 454 allows the Secretary of State to commission police officers on the premises of any financial institution, railroad, power plant, public or non profit hospital or amusement parks under certain circumstances. I voted “yes.” The bill passed.