From the Statehouse 2008 No. 21
by Jennifer Garrison
Jun. 20, 2008
From the Statehouse: Protecting Children, From Toddlers to Teens
By Jennifer Garrison
They represent our future and our promise. They deserve our sacrifice, our respect and our protection against elements of our society that could do them harm.
They are our children, and the Ohio House of Representatives recently passed two pieces of legislation related to their protection.
The first addresses a growing concern in our communities about teen dating violence. Too many teenagers and families are being forced to deal with the harsh realities of this issue. In response to this concern, the Ohio House passed Substitute House Bill 247. This bill allows juvenile victims of dating violence to file a petition for a civil protection order in Juvenile Court when the person committing the violence is also a juvenile. Prior to this legislation, victims could only seek a “no contact” order which still allowed perpetrators to intimidate and harass victims. The bill also provides the ability for a juvenile victim to file the petition for a protective order in adult court when the perpetrator of dating violence is at least 18 years old.
This bill, brought forward by my colleague from Toledo, State Representative Edna Brown, was heard in the House Juvenile and Family Law Committee. I served as Ranking Member on the committee at the time, and the testimony we heard – from scientific data to heart-wrenching personal stories – made it abundantly clear that this issue deserved our attention and swift legislative action.
I am thankful to Rep. Brown for moving this important legislation forward, and I am proud to have co-sponsored HB 247 in hopes that it will make a difference in protecting teenagers before they become victims of date violence. The bill passed unanimously, including my “yes” vote. It now awaits consideration in the Senate.
The other piece of legislation we considered that dealt with protecting children was House Bill 320, a bill of particular interest to parents of young kids. This bill would require that children in Ohio who are 4-8 years old and under 4’9” tall be placed in a booster seat while riding in a vehicle.
Quite honestly I was torn by this legislation. I felt parents should have the right to determine when and if their child needs restrained when a child is over the age of 4 based on their child’s size. However, the determining factor for me came from the doctors at Children’s Hospital. They shared their personal observations of children involved in a car accident who had been restrained by a regular seat belt. The damage from a seat belt that cuts into a child’s internal organs because they were not tall enough for the seat belt was compelling.
Additionally, House Bill 320 clarifies that failure to properly restrain children between ages eight and 18 years old in a vehicle is considered a secondary traffic offense. This legislation applies to any vehicle traveling within Ohio.
This legislation helps ensure that children remain safe when traveling in a vehicle. We hear stories far too often about tragic accidents that claim young lives, deaths that could have been prevented by a seat belt or some other restraining device. As a mother myself, I saw it as imperative to vote in favor of such legislation. Those concerned about this legislation should be encouraged by the many organizations that offered testimony on that subject and have committed to providing booster seats to every child in Ohio who needs one once the law is enacted.
HB 320 passed unanimously, including my “yes” vote. It now awaits action in the Senate.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at (614) 644-8728, in the district at 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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