From the Statehouse 2006 No. 22
by Jennifer Garrison
Nov. 30, 2006
FROM THE STATEHOUSE
I truly appreciate the positive feedback I have received in regard to my columns over the past two years. Hopefully these columns have been informative to you. I am committed to continuing this practice over my next term in office because accountability is crucial to good government.
In the remainder of the year, the Ohio House will be saying good-by to nearly 1/3 of its Members. The new member incoming class is large and the Legislature seems poised for bi-partisan cooperation. Wednesday evening, Governor-Elect Strickland delivered a passionate invitation to all elected officials to work together at a gathering of the new General Assembly. I am excited and hopeful for 2007.
Over the past two (2) weeks the Ohio House voted on a number of bills. House Bill 551, prohibits a person from making a false report that results in a statewide AMBER alert or a regional emergency alert. The penalties for anyone knowingly making a false report is a prison term of 6-18 months. This is a 4th degree felony.
H.B. 551 does not penalize a person who truly believes their child is missing. Since October, 2002, AMBER alerts have resulted in the safe recovery of 82 or 84 children. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Substitute House Bill 285 makes it illegal to require employees of the Adult Parole Authority to use their private vehicles in their employment. The Adult Parole Authority is responsible for the transporting of inmates to and from prison to and from their home communities. Adult Parole Authority employees have had to use their privately owned vehicles to transport the felons and have later found crack cocaine in their personal vehicles. The bill passed. I voted “yes”.
Substitute House Bill 546 changes Ohio’s thoroughbred racing laws. The goal is to make Ohio’s horse racing industry more competitive. This bill authorizes Ohio’s Racing Commission to enter into the National Racing Compact to license and regulate individuals involved in the horse racing industry in the Compact states. By becoming a member of the National Racing Compact, thoroughbred and standard bred owners in Ohio will have flexibility to race their horses in other states belonging to the compact.
The bill also allows interest earnings to remain in the Ohio Thoroughbred Fund, which proponents argue would make the state’s racing industry more competitive.
The bill also removes the July 15th date for the arrival of a mare in Ohio to have an Ohio foaled horse. The bill specifies a thoroughbred mare may now leave Ohio for breeding purposes with the commission’s permission. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Substitute House Bill 441, authorizes a 2 year pilot program to allow members of the judicial corrections board to pass a rule for their board meetings to occur by teleconferencing or interactive video teleconference. Eighteen months after this bill becomes law, leaders of the Ohio House and Senate will receive a report outlining the effects of operating a board meeting by teleconference. The goal of this bill is to test remote meeting technologies as well as improving participation of its members and efficiency. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Finally, the House voted on the Senate amendments to House Bill 347, otherwise known as the concealed carry corrections bill. Basically, H.B. 347, creates statewide pre-emption so all firearm laws are uniform throughout the state. The bill eliminated the “plain sight” requirement of a firearm in a motor vehicle. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
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>