New law allows Ohioans to drink higher-alcohol content beer

By Marc Kovac | July 1, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

Second of six-part series

COLUMBUS

You’ll soon be able to imbibe beer with a higher alcohol content, synchronize multiple prescriptions so they can be filled on the same day and push for criminal penalties against people threatening you online, thanks to law changes passed by the Ohio Legislature and signed by Gov. John Kasich in recent weeks.

Here are 10 more of 60 law changes OK’d before lawmakers left Columbus for their summer recess, with most set to take effect in August or September:

1 All in the family: A new state law, enacted as part of House Bill 229, allows for the establishment and operation of “family trust companies.” The bill was offered as a way for Ohioans in long-term care to maintain their Medicaid eligibility.

“The majority of individuals who will need these trusts are residents of long-term care facilities, such as skilled-nursing centers,” said Rep. Steve Hambley, R-Brunswick, a primary co-sponsor of the legislation. “A qualified-income trust is described in federal and state law as a very simple instrument that receives a portion of the person’s income each month and immediately pays it out to cover their contribution to their Medicaid services and other legally required expenses.”

2 More prison time for gun crimes: SB 97 will increase the mandatory prison time required for those convicted of certain crimes involving firearms.

3 Veterans IDs: HB 173 allows county officials to issue veteran identification cards to confirm their military status, codifying a program that’s already being used in some counties.

4 Hot cars and kids: A new state law will provide protections for individuals who bust into cars on hot days to save kids or pets.

SB 215 grants civil immunity from any damage caused during the forcible entry into a vehicle to remove an animal or minor, as long as individuals determine vehicles are locked, there’s no other way in and occupants are in danger.

There are a few caveats: You’ll have to call the police or emergency responders first and remain with the youngsters or animals until those responders arrive at the scene.

5 Beer: When HB 37 left the Ohio House more than a year ago, it was a short bill focused on allowing consumption of beer and intoxicating liquors at specified markets in the state.

But it came back from the Ohio Senate with language, long sought by some lawmakers, to eliminate the alcohol-content limits on beer, previously set at 12 percent.

6 Pet emergencies: First off, don’t go calling 911 if Fido’s hurt. But HB 187 will allow emergency responders to treat injured dogs or cats at accident scenes.

Treatments covered by the bill include “opening and manually maintaining an airway,” “giving mouth-to-snout or mouth-to-barrier ventilation,” controlling bleeding, immobilizing broken bones and bandaging wounds, according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Service Commission.

Also, “The services may be provided only to the extent that the first responder ... is authorized by existing law to perform the corresponding form of the services when providing emergency medical services to a human patient.”

7 Pharmacy visits: HB 116 will allow patients dealing with chronic conditions – heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. – to work with their doctors and pharmacists to have their prescriptions refilled on the same day each month.

8 Dead people: HB 240 included a number of changes to state laws related to coroners, including allowing county commissioners to contract for related services with another county’s coroner and requiring coroners to “deliver a deceased person’s firearm” to the police chief or sheriff where the body is found, with a procedure for relatives to request the firearm’s return.

9 Autism scholarships: The state has a scholarship program that provides funding for students with autism to attend a school outside of the district where they live.

HB 299 expanded eligibility for the scholarships to allow custodial parents to sign kids up for autism scholarships.

10 Harassment and stalking: HB 151 expanded the state law definition of “menacing by stalking” to include messages and communications posted using electronic telecommunications devices.

The bill prohibits a person from knowingly posting a text or audio statement for the purpose of abusing, threatening or harassing another person.”