From the Statehouse 2005 No. 24
by Jennifer Garrison
Sep. 20, 2005
From the Statehouse Article 24
This was the Ohio Legislature's first week back in quasi session after summer break. While the Speaker of the House cancelled all floor voting, some committees met. The children are back in school, the teachers back to work, and the Legislature should go back to work also. The price of gasoline is escalating and the Legislature needs to respond to the crisis.
The Education Committee met and we considered House Bill 295. This bill requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to initiate steps to assure community schools collect and report accurate test score data. In Ohio our charter schools are called community schools.
In 2003, the Legislative Office of Education Oversight (LOEO), reported 39% of community schools (charter schools) did not submit the required information, particularly regarding proficiency and achievement tests scores to the ODE. These test scores are used to determine the success or failure of the experimental school initiative. Unlike public school districts, community schools (charter schools) continue to receive their state funding even when they refuse to provide the required information.
House Bill 295 levels the playing field. House Bill 295 applies the same sanctions to community schools (charter schools) for failure to submit this data as it applies to public schools. This penalty is a loss of 10% of their next payment for the first offense of non-compliance and 20% for the second offense. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation.
The Public Utilities and Energy Committee also met and heard testimony on House Bill 247, a renewable electric energy bill.
This bill authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish a system of renewable energy credits. House Bill 278 also directs electric utilities to incrementally increase the percentage of their renewable resources used to generate electricity. Such renewable resources include wind, biomass, geothermal and solar energy.
The bill would require that the renewable sources account for 3% of a utilities' supply mix by 2007, and 20% by 2021. Although I am uncertain if I support this legislation, it is important to investigate other energy sources. There was a good discussion on the direction other states are going on renewable energy initiatives.
This week two (2) bills I sponsored were referred to committee for hearings. The first -House Bill 334, was referred to the Criminal Justice Committee. This legislation would modify Ohio's corrupt activity law and allow Ohio to recover losses from individuals currently involved in various state scandals. The people of this state should not lose public money and state resources because of the corruption in Columbus. We must begin rebuilding the trust Ohioans have in their government and this legislation will assist us with our recovery efforts.
House Bill 334 is modeled after the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
House Bill 323, which I also sponsored, was referred to the State Government Committee for hearings. This bill would require the Ohio House of Representatives to maintain each member's floor votes on its current website. Surprisingly, the current Ohio House website does not list how a Member votes on any bills on the House floor.
I believe this bill will be a very helpful resource to the citizens of Ohio. Open government and accountability breeds integrity.
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 www.jennifergarrison.com