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New Ohio law gives boaters a single point of contact with ODNR
Part 4 of series
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Ever heard of Scleroderma? Or how about Bartter Syndrome?
You might learn more about those ailments in the future, thanks to a couple of bills that were moved by state lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich in recent weeks.
Here are 10 more of 60 law changes approved before lawmakers left Columbus for their summer recess, with most of them set to take effect in August or September:
1 Boating: Senate Bill 293 combined two separate divisions within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The move means boaters will have a single point of contact within ODNR, rather than going through the former divisions of parks and recreation and watercraft.
Under the previous setup, the separate offices operated in state parks, including providing their own officers to patrol different areas. Under SB 293, one office will handle all watercraft and park oversight.
2 Speaking of boating: There’s a bunch of other law changes included in SB 293, which was one of Kasich’s mid-biennium review bills.
There’s a whole section dealing with the types of flotation devices that have to be used on boats in general and as part of towed water sports, including water skiing, wake boarding or any type of inflatable being pulled behind a boat.
The state definition of “watercraft” also was expanded to include kayaks, pedal boats and hovercrafts. There are definition changes for other watercraft, including “belly boats.”
3 Prior authorization: Have you ever had to work with your doctor’s office and insurance company to get prior authorization to ensure treatment costs are covered?
SB 129 includes a number of law changes related to that process, including setting criteria for prior authorization with deadlines for responses.
Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, a primary sponsor, said in a released statement last month that the bill is aimed at eliminating some of the administrative burden and delays when patients are seeking medical care.
“While we have made steps towards patient fairness and health care transparency, I believe this bill is just a first step toward reforming the prior authorization process in Ohio,” Cafaro said.
4 Driver’s licenses and drugs: If you’re convicted of a drug offense, you may no longer also face a mandatory suspension of your driver’s license, under provisions of Senate Bill 204.
Federal law has required states to institute license suspensions for drug convictions, whether those crimes were associated with driving a motor vehicle or not.
State lawmakers, however, adopted a resolution urging a change to those requirements, effectively opening the door for Ohio to institute its own policy on the issue.
Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, said the suspension issue will instead be left to the discretion of the court involved in issuing the sentence, in cases where the drug charges are not related to driving.
Those under current suspensions could petition the court for reinstatement of their licenses.
5 Driver’s licenses and nitrous oxide: But you should expect to lose your license for having nitrous oxide in your car, under that same legislation.
6 Awareness: There are lots of days and months designated to draw awareness to various medical issues. Lawmakers added to that list before they left town for the summer.
Senate Bill, for examples, sets June as Scleroderma Awareness Month, spotlighting “a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues – the fibers that provide the framework and support for the body,” according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Service Commission.
Scleroderma most often sets in individuals between the age of 30 and 50 and more often affects women, according to LSC.
An estimated 300,000 Americans suffer from the disease.
7 Bartter Syndrome: Another bill, Senate Bill 128, designates May 30 as Bartter Syndrome Awareness Day, spotlighting “a group of similar kidney disorders that cause an imbalance of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other molecules in the body,” according to LSC.
No cure for the disorder has yet been identified.
8 Thyroid health: House Bill 219, meanwhile, designates January as Thyroid Health Awareness Month “to raise awareness of thyroid-related diseases and conditions, including thyroid cancer,” according to LSC.
“The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, just above the collarbone. It is an endocrine gland, which makes hormones. Thyroid hormones control the rate of many of the body’s metabolic activities.”
9 One more: And House Bill 352 sets April as Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month “in honor of the significant contributions made by the osteopathic field of medicine to improve the health of Ohioans. … Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care and practice a ‘whole person’ approach to medicine. Approximately 60 percent of practicing osteopaths specialize in primary care, including family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics. Many practice in rural and other medically underserved areas of the country,” the LSC reported.
10 JEDDs: In Ohio, local governments are allowed to ink agreements to form joint economic development districts, or JEDDs, to promote economic development.
House Bill 182 changes some of the state law behind JEDDs, consolidating portions within the Ohio Revised Code. Among numerous other provisions, the bill adds redevelopment efforts to the list of allowable JEDD activities.