From the Statehouse 2006 No. 16
by Jennifer Garrison
May. 20, 2006
FROM THE STATEHOUSE 2006 ARTICLE 16
This week in Columbus the House voted out Substitute House Bill 149. This bill provides a nonrefundable state tax credit for rehabilitation of historic buildings. Specifically, the bill limits the number of tax credits to 20 rehabilitation projects per year, meaning it is a pilot project. The building credit maximum is $250,000.00. The purpose of the bill is to encourage Ohio communities to use their historic assets to revive their neighborhoods and cities. I believe this could be very meaningful to Marietta, Cambridge, Caldwell and Woodsfield. I voted ³yes². The bill passed.
House Bill 393 recognizes September 22nd of each year as Emancipation Day statewide. The bill passed. I voted ³yes².
Substitute House Bill 461 increases the sentence for aggravated vehicular homicide to a mandatory term of 15-20 years in prison if the offender has 3 or more OMVI convictions or pleas guilty within the previous 6 years, or has two or more prior felony OMVI convictions. This bill came about as a result of cases where repeat drunk drivers have caused accidents killing a person. I vote ³yes². The bill passed.
House Bill 282 designates September 11th as Ohio Public Safety Employee Day in Ohio. I voted ³yes². The bill passed.
Amended House Bill 312 also passed the House this week. This bill designates handicapped parking spaces be available at polling places. The bill also requires the Director of the Board of Elections to sign a statement verifying the handicapped parking spaces are available at the polling places. I voted ³yes².
House Bill 524 amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. This bill allows pharmacists to administer certain immunizations to individuals age 14 and older. Currently, pharmacists are allowed to immunize adults age 18 and older against influenza, pneumonia, tetanus and hepatitis A and B.
House Bill 524 broadens the list of immunizations that pharmacists are permitted to administer. This list now includes meningitis, diphtheria, and whooping cough. In the event the patient has an adverse reaction to an immunization, a pharmacist can also administer epinephrine, and diphenhydramine. This bill passed. I voted ³yes².
Substitute Senate Bill 262 allows certain inmates to apply for state-funded, post conviction DNA testing of crime scene evidence. To be eligible:
1) no prior definitive DNA testing was conducted ;
2) the inmate pled not guilty at trial or was granted approval from prosecutor in cases where pleas of guilty or no contest were granted at the time of the conviction;
3) sufficient biological material is available;
4) the outcome of the DNA test can prove the inmate is guilty or not guilty;
5) at least 1 year is remaining on the inmates sentence.
I voted ³yes². The bill passed.
Last week I did not have the space to report on House Bill 236 or Senate Bill 268. House Bill 236 creates the ³Donate Life² license plates. If you choose this plate an additional $15.00 will be charged with $5.00 going to the Second Chance Trust Fund. Today 2500 people are on a list for organ donations. Each person that donates their body can save 7 lives. I voted ³yes². The Resolution passed.
Senate Bill 268 also passed last week and was signed by the Governor. This bill adopts the Interstate Insurance Product Compact. The Compact will develop uniform standards for insurance products and give regulatory approval for products and advertisements. Each compacting state will have 1 member on the commission and have 1 vote. No uniform standard will be passed without a 2/3 vote. The Compact has been enacted into law in 23 states and legislation is pending in 13 other states. I voted ³yes².
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 Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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