From the Statehouse 2007 No. 09
by Jennifer Garrison
May. 19, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – May 17, 2007
This was a good week for proponents of adoption in Ohio. Senate Bill 20 overwhelmingly passed the House increasing the adoption income tax credit from $500 per child to $1500 per child giving families and individuals more resources to adopt a child. The number of public adoptions in Ohio was 2015 in 2005 and an estimated 1976 in 2006. As of 2006, there were still 2643 children waiting to be adopted. I voted “yes”.
Substitute House Bill 33 allows chiropractors to incorporate acupuncture into their scope of practice. This bill sets the toughest education and training standards in the country for chiropractic physicians, which includes 300 hours of additional training. The State Medical Board of Ohio and the Ohio State Chiropractic Board both supported the bill. I voted “yes”. The bill passed
Amended Senate Bill 58 expands the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizations by adding meningitis, diphtheria, and pertussis to the immunizations pharmacists may administer to adults. A similar bill passed out of both the House and Senate last year, but was not signed into law by Governor Taft.
The bill lowers the minimum age from 18 to 14 for individuals to receive influenza immunizations from pharmacists. However, the minor must have the consent of a parent. The bill also allows pharmacy interns, who have completed training and certification, to administer the influenza vaccine to adults under the supervision of a pharmacist. The bill also eliminates the 30 day notification period to an adult patient’s physician before a pharmacist can administer the influenza vaccine.
Finally, Senate Bill 58 allows a pharmacist to administer epinephrine, an EPI pen, and diphenhydramine during an emergency situation. Today, pharmacists are required to keep these life saving allergic reaction drugs on hand, but are not allowed to administer them. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Senate Bill 116 was brought to the Legislature by citizen initiative, a procedure by which citizens propose a law. The petition must contain signatures from 3% of the total votes cast in the last governor’s race and must contain signatures from 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. If the legislature fails to act or votes no on the bill, the citizens have 90 days to collect the same number of signatures to place it on the ballot in the next statewide election.
Basically, Senate Bill 16 toughens the rules for adult entertainment establishments. This bill prohibits a nude dancer or seminude dancer in an adult club from knowingly touching a patron. The bill also prohibits a patron of one of these establishments from touching a nude or semi-nude dancer. Family members are excluded. A violation of this section is a 4th degree misdemeanor. If the touching is to a specified anatomical area, the penalty is increased to a first degree misdemeanor. This is known as the “no touch” rule.
This bill also prohibits the operation of a sexually oriented business from midnight to 6:00 a.m. except if the business has a liquor license allowing operation longer. However, after midnight nude dancing is still prohibited. This bill passed 73-24. 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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