From The Statehouse 2005 No. 28
by Jennifer Garrison
Oct. 22, 2005
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – ARTICLE 28
This week I voted on a “gray bill”. This is a bill that has some good and some bad. Substitute House Bill 234 caused me great difficulty. The original bill, House Bill 234, passed out of the House in June, which I supported. House Bill 234 permitted a board of elections and a board of education, to establish a program permitting certain high school seniors to volunteer as poll workers on the day of an election. This is a wonderful civics experience for our soon to be voters.
On Tuesday, in the Senate, a substantial amendment was added, that allowed absentee voting for Ohioans. Thus, the bill passed out of the Senate and became Substitute House Bill 234. The House suspended their rules to vote on it on Wednesday.
I support absentee voting. However, this bill changes current law to require certain identification when an absentee ballot is requested. Senior citizens have been voting by absentee ballot for a very long time with virtually no fraud. I believe this bill can make it harder for our seniors to vote by absentee ballot. A recent study found just 4 cases of voting fraud--out of more than 9 million votes cast in the 2002 and 2004 elections. Voting is our most sacred responsibility. I do not want to see anyone turned away because of this change in the law.
The reasons I finally decided to vote against Substitute House Bill 234 is it unfairly and perhaps unlawfully burdens the right to vote by requiring absentee voters to produce identification which they may not have. I voted “no”. The bill passed.
Substitute Senate Bill 19, grants immunity to members of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams unless the action or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. CISM teams are trained volunteers who provide for the emotional needs of first responders and their families. The bill also provides team members with immunity against tort or other civil liability arising from debriefing sessions. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
House Bill 367 passed out of the House this week 86-9. This bill reinstates a prohibition against the Department of Natural Resources using Division of Wildlife hunting and fishing license revenue for administrative costs. All hunting and fishing licenses fees are earmarked for Wildlife Division programs. I voted “yes”.
Substitute House Bill 81 makes changes in the Credit Union Law relating to fields of membership, expansion of authorities, meetings of directors, compensation of officers, fees and interest chargeable on loans. This bill affords credit unions some of the privileges that banks receive. The Financial Institutions Committee examined 5 different versions of this bill in the last few years. This is a compromise bill with both credit unions and banks supporting it. The bill passed. I voted “yes”.
House Bill 139 is a land conveyance bill. The bill conveys the state's right, title and interest in certain real estate located in Liberty Township Trumbull County to Liberty township. The bill passed 93-0. I voted “yes”.
House Bill 141 gives parole officers, probation officers, and field officers the same confidentiality protections as peace officers with respect to certain personal information. This bill passed. I voted “yes”.
This week I testified in the State Government Committee on placing the voting records of Members of the Ohio House on its website. Open government leads to public confidence in its government.
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