Ohio Municipal League
175 South Third Street
Suite 510
Columbus, Ohio 43215

614-221-4349 Office
614-221-4390 Fax

email:
Legislative Inquiries
John Mahoney
General Inquiries
info@omunileague.org

For email inquiries to the OML, it would be most helpful if you would include your name, position, city or village you represent. 

Also please include a phone number and/or address for instances when we need further contact with you.

Please type “OML Inquiry” in subject line so that we can identify e-mails picked up as spam.

OML E- BULLETIN
If you would like to sign up for the E-Bulletin, send an email here: info@omunileague.org
 In the e-mail, indicate that you would like to be taken off the paper Bulletin list.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS BULLETIN TO YOUR COUNCIL, DEPARTMENT HEADS & STAFF

GOVERNOR DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE.
This week's activities centered on Governor Bob Taft's State of the State Address. His message focused on a new technology initiative and urging the federal government to extend unemployment compensation an extra thirteen weeks as long as the economy stays in a rut. You can read the entire text of the Governor's State of the State speech online at www.state.oh.us/gov/. The text is included in the "major speeches" category.

As might be expected in an election year, the reaction to the Governor's remarks were mix, but not confusing. Republicans loved the speech, Democrats didn't.

PREDATORY LENDING BILL PASSES SENATE.

Ironically, during this National Consumer Protection Week, the Ohio Senate passed HB 386 by a 21-12 margin. Even with changes made to the bill by the Senate, the measure was universally panned and opposed by the American Association for Retired Persons and other consumer groups.

The vote for the bill was mostly along partisan lines, with most Democrats voting against the measure and most Republican voting for it. GOP Senators Robert Spada and Priscilla Mead voted against the bill, while Democrat Senators Michael Shoemaker and Greg DiDonato voted for the bill.

Efforts by Senate Democrats to remove the League's concern about the bill (preemption of local anti-predatory lending ordinances) were rebuffed on the floor by the Senate Majority.

The bill now goes back to the House for concurrence in Senate amendments. That action is expected to occur this coming week. The bill would then go onto the Governor for his signature.

COMMITTEE SCHEDULE FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11, 2002

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

SENATE WAYS & MEANS, After Session, South Hearing Rm., Chr. Blessing, Phone: 466-8068.

HB 129 COUNTY TAX BUDGET (Webster) Permits a county budget commission to waive the requirement that a taxing authority adopt a tax budget for a subdivision or taxing unit. (3^rd Hearing - Proponent - Possible Vote)

HOUSE COMMERCE & LABOR, 1:30 p.m., Rm. 121, Chr. Williams, Phone: 644-5085.

HB 444 PAWNBROKERS/PRECIOUS METALS (Manning) Makes changes in the laws that regulate pawnbrokers and precious metal dealers. (3^rd Hearing - Proponent, opponent & interested party)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

HOUSE CIVIL & COMMERCIAL LAW, 9:30 a.m., Rm. 114, Chr. Willamowski, Phone: 466-9624.

HB 317 RAILROAD QUIET ZONES (Kilbane) Includes as a governmental function, for the purposes of the Political Subdivision Sovereign Immunity Law, the establishment, construction and maintenance of a railroad quiet zone for public roads rail crossings. (1^st Hearing - Refer to subcommittee)

HB 469 PUBLIC INDECENCY (Roman) Modifies Ohio’s public indecency law; generally regulates adult entertainment establishments; permits townships to regulation the location and operation of those establishments and makes other changes. (1^st Hearing - Refer to subcommittee)

HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT & TOWNSHIPS, 10 a.m., Rm. 121, Chr. Roman, Phone: 466-1790.

HB 454 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING (Coates) Raises the threshold amount below which the fiscal officer of a political subdivisions can approve expenditures made without a certificate of available funds. (3^rd Hearing - Proponent, opponent & interested party)

SB106 SCHOOL SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY (Hottinger) Includes as a governmental function under the Political Subdivision Sovereign Immunity Law the design, construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, maintenance, and operation of any school athletic facility, school auditorium, or gymnasium and the designation, establishment, design, construction, implementation, operation, repair, or maintenance of railroad quiet zones and makes other changes. (3^rd Hearing - Opponent)

HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT, 4 p.m., Rm. 122, Chr. Young, Phone: 644-6074.

HB 482 ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT (Buehrer) Adopts the "Electronic Government Services Act" to prohibit a government agency from providing duplicative or competing electronic commerce services with the private sector. (3^rd Hearing - Proponent, opponent & interested party)