Bill would give tax-exempt status to correctional agencies

Staff report

COLUMBUS

State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, has introduced a bill that focuses on support for community-based correction facilities.

The bill provides tax-exemption status for any nonprofit agency that operates a community-based correctional facility for offenders.

Schiavoni worked with Youngstown’s Community Corrections Association in putting the legislation together.

“The Community Corrections Association has provided dozens of significant services to those in need while simultaneously redeveloping the streets on the South Side of Youngstown,” Schiavoni said. “It is my goal to pass legislation that ensures the CCA, and any other community correction nonprofit organization, continued success through the utilization of tax-exempt status.”

Dr. Richard Billak, director of CCA, said, “Without this [tax-exempt status], the financial impact on nonprofit correctional agencies statewide will be dramatic. We feel that this legislation is critical to the success of these programs across the state of Ohio.”

Other pieces of legislation Schiavoni introduced this summer include reforming criminal sentencing guidelines for veterans, regulation and oversight of Internet cafes, prohibiting customer support call centers from receiving state loans or grants if they outsource their call-center jobs overseas, and prohibiting indemnity agreements in trucking contracts.

The senator said he plans on introducing legislation in the coming weeks that include a property tax relief for homeowners and renters, the creation of additional liquor permits to assist in the development of entertainment districts such as those in downtown Youngstown, safety improvements in relation to oil and gas drilling and expanding safeguards to prevent home foreclosures.