From the Statehouse 2007 No. 01
by Jennifer Garrison
Jan. 7, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE -2007-1
On Tuesday, January 2nd the Ohio House of Representatives for the 127th General Assembly was sworn into office. Of the 99 House Members, 32 are new. The business of the House consisted of voting on House Leadership. A Joint Session of the Ohio House and Senate took place on Wednesday, where the election results were canvassed for all statewide offices.
This is the last week of Governor Taft’s reign. He is signing many bills into law, the House and Senate took up in the last 3 weeks of session. I will address a number of bills he signed this week, that have yet to be discussed in my articles.
Governor Taft signed House Bill 149 this week, the Historic Tax Credit bill. This bill sets up a pilot program that awards a tax credit refund of 25% on qualified rehabilitation expenses. The bill authorizes 100 historic tax credits to be issued in fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009.
House Bill 149 requires state officials to do a cost/ benefit analysis before awarding the credit to a project. To be eligible for a historic tax credit, the project must be projected to result in increased tax revenues once the building is complete. There are a number of projects locally that could benefit from the historic tax credit. I was a co-sponsor of this bill and voted “yes”.
Governor Taft also signed House Bill 73 which increases the amount of time an individual can spend in the state before being presumed to be a resident of the state for income tax purposes. This bill came about because it is believed philanthropic monies could return to the state if retirees spent more time in Ohio.
Substitute House bill 73 also exempts military pay from taxation. I voted “yes” on this bill.
Amended Substitute House Bill 272 makes statutory changes to state retirement systems. The bill authorizes voluntary health care savings accounts to be established by each state retirement system.
The bill also provides a retirement system does not need to hold an election to fill a vacated board position if 90 days or less remain in the term. The bill requires a board member removal proceedings occur in a court of common please instead of the district court of appeals. The appeal is to the district court of appeals instead of the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Public Employees Retirement System contributors are now permitted to make additional deposits through payroll deductions. There are numerous changes to the state retirement systems designed to strengthen the plans. I voted “yes”.
Substitute House Bill 343 prohibits a probationary driver who is under the age of 17 from driving a vehicle between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or a guardian. A probationary driver between age 17 and 18 is prohibited from driving a vehicle between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The bill also prohibits a probationary driver from driving a motor vehicle who is less than 17 years old with more than one person who is not a family member unless accompanied by the driver’s parent or guardian.
If a probationary driver under the age of 17 commits a moving violation during the 6 month period from the date of issuance, the driver must then be accompanied while driving by his or her parent or guardian for 6 months after pleading guilty to the moving violation or until the person turns age 17. 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 Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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