Ohio Municipal League
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Columbus, Ohio 43215

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John Mahoney
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Renewed Session Kicks Off.

Though it was not a particularly eventful week in the General Assembly, a couple of things did come to the fore that will mark the upcoming weeks of session. Video Lottery Terminals and another effort to put those gambling devices at racetracks through a November ballot issue popped up. Supporters of that effort will once again try to garner the necessary votes for that issue, perhaps with a new twist. In its latest persona, the issue would not only allow for VLT’s at racetracks, but also allow cities to place casino issues on their local ballots. We will, of course, follow this with interest, but, at the moment, there is very little by way of specifics available. At the moment, the "Casino for every City" idea looks very much like a brightly colored balloon released from the eaves of the Statehouse to see if its flight leaves everyone filled with child-like awe or it flies away, never to be seen again.

Tax Reform was also a topic of discussion this week, though that discussion was muted among interest groups because the draft of the proposal, as expected, is not quite finished. Though the ideas that are to be included in the draft were discussed during two meetings of the House Ways and Means Committee this week, the committee will not meet next week while the draft of the proposal is being finished. We will keep you informed on details of this proposal, as they become available.

Senate President Doug White said this week that counties which want to replace punch-card type voting devices with electronic voting machines should be allowed to do so before the November elections. Despite controversy over whether such machines should include paper confirmations of voter choices, the Senate is expected to put the stance put forth by Senator White into legislation by attaching amendments to that affect to HB 262 next week. As you may recall, HB 262 is a bill the League worked on earlier. As introduced, the bill would subject leave and pay of municipal employees who work the polls on Election Day to very generous terms set by the state. The bill now makes clear that those policies for municipal employees are set by the municipality.

Despite previous schedules, the House canceled two days of session for next week, though some House committees will meet. The Senate sessions for next week are still scheduled.

Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor, (Chr. Nein, 466-8072), North Hearing Rm., 10 a.m.

SB 179 CONTRACTOR LICENSING  (Nein)  Provides for the licensure of backflow contractors and prefabricated fireplace contractors; changes the name of the Ohio Construction Industry Examining Board to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board and makes other changes related to that board.  (6th Hearing-Interested party - Possible amendments & vote)  

Senate State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs, (Chr. Coughlin, 466-4823), South Hearing Rm., 10 a.m.

Note: The committee's meeting is scheduled to continue after the conclusion of the 1:30 p.m. session.

HB 262 POLL WORKERS & OPTION ELECTIONS  (Carmichael)  Revises the Election Law by increasing the maximum poll worker pay, permitting employees of the state and of political subdivisions to work as judges of elections and receive poll worker pay in addition to their regular employment compensation, eliminating the required ballot language describing certain past local option elections when a local option election is held on sales of alcoholic beverages at a specific location, and makes other changes.  (3rd Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party - Substitute bill, possible amendments & vote)  

House Civil & Commercial Law, (Chr. Seitz, 466-8258), Hayes Rm. (formerly 114), 9:30 a.m.

HB 428ADULT ENTERTAINMENT REGULATION  (Reidelbach)  Generally regulates adult entertainment establishments; permits townships to regulate the location and operation of those establishments; creates an expedited appeal from orders, adjudications, or decisions denying an application for, or suspending or revoking, a license or permit to locate or operate such an establishment; creates an expedited appear in any case in which a court determines there is a threat of restraint of protected expression, and; creates the offense of permitting unlawful operation of viewing booths depicting sexual conduct.  (2nd Hearing - Proponent)  

Senate State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs, (Chr. Coughlin, 466-4823), Harding Rm. (formerly 109), 9:30 a.m.

HB 262 POLL WORKERS & OPTION ELECTIONS  (Carmichael)  Revises the Election Law by increasing the maximum poll worker pay, permitting employees of the state and of political subdivisions to work as judges of elections and receive poll worker pay in addition to their regular employment compensation, eliminating the required ballot language describing certain past local option elections when a local option election is held on sales of alcoholic beverages at a specific location, and makes other changes.  (4th Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party - Substitute bill, possible amendments & vote)  

House County & Township Government, (Chr. Wolpert, 466-9690), McKinley Rm. (formerly 121), 10 a.m.

HB 411 LAND APPROPRIATIONS  (Seitz)  Allows a county, municipal corporation, conservancy district, sanitary district, county sewer district, or regional water and sewer district to appropriate land without a prior jury assessment for the construction of sewers when the Director of Environmental Protection or a local board of health finds that unsanitary conditions compel the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare; revises the rulemaking authority of a board of county commissioners that adopts rules governing erosion control, sediment control, and water management; establishes a penalty for violation of those rules; authorizes a board of county commissioners that has established a county sewer district to adopt rules governing the prevention of sewer back-ups; and requires health district licensing councils to meet at least annually rather than quarterly.  (3rd Hearing-Proponent, opponent & interested party)  

House Banking, Pensions & Securities, (Chr. Blasdel, 466-8022), Rm. 018, 10:30 a.m.

HB 449 RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFUND  (Seitz)  Allows a retirant re-employed in a position covered by the Public Employees Retirement System to receive a refund of the retirant's contributions in lieu of a benefit for the period of re-employment.  (1st Hearing-Sponsor)