From the Statehouse 2007 No. 10
by Jennifer Garrison
May. 24, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – May 24, 2007
Amended House Bill 89 provides qualified immunity from civil liability to those who in good faith donate perishable foods and consumer goods to certain charitable agencies. This bill also grants qualified immunity if prior to the donation the agency or individual determine the goods would be fit for use at the time of donation and the determination is not made with gross negligence. Gross negligence is defined as negligence beyond the ordinary, a reckless or wanton disregard of the duty to care towards others.
It has come to the attention of the General Assembly that perishable foods and consumer goods such as diapers and personal products are being thrown away because the packages are damaged and businesses worry about civil liability. With so many people in need of perishable foods and other consumer goods, this legislation allows for these donations with some assurance the donating business will not face civil liability.
The Ohio Grocers Association, the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks all testified in support of this bill. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Substitute House Bill 46 deals with identity theft issues. This legislation requires credit reporting agencies to place a freeze on a consumer’s existing credit to prevent new lines of credit from being opened upon the request of the consumer. This is useful when a consumer has had their identity stolen. It can also be used be used by a consumer to have a freeze on all the time as a way to avoid identity theft in the form of new lines of credit from being created.
Under this bill a consumer may temporarily lift a freeze from the consumer’s account for a specific period of time. This is referred to as a temporary “thaw”. The bill requires consumer credit reporting agencies to develop a method to release the freeze electronically, so the requests can be processed eventually within 15 minutes. Today the wait will be 3 days.
The bill also allows a consumer to create a list of entities to which a consumer reporting agency may release a consumer’s credit while the security freeze is in place. This bill allows a consumer who is the victim of identity theft to control legitimate requests for credit needed to continue with their daily life. The costs for these services would be up to $10 to freeze, but would be free if consumer is an identity theft victim, $5 to thaw, and $5 to remove or lift the freeze. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
The House also unanimously passed out House Bill 144 which designates the month of May as “Nurses Month”. I voted “yes”.
The Ohio House voted to concur with the Senate changes to House Bill 100, which is the Workers Compensation and Industrial Commission budget for July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009. I voted “yes”. The bill goes to the Governor for his signature.
Finally, the General Assembly passed House Bill 56 which clarifies the rights and duties of the parties to an action for a forcible entry and detainer at a manufactured home park. 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 Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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