Thursday, June 30, 2016
Editor’s note: Part 1 of a six-part series on new Ohio laws OK’d before lawmakers went on summer recess.
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
The eyes of the nation were on Ohio back in March, when Gov. John Kasich won his home state presidential primary.
Ohio’s Republican state lawmakers also were on the move that month, with many supporting the governor’s campaign.
That meant a stretch of 40-some days during March and early April when the Ohio Senate and House were out of session, with no bills to pass or consider.
But legislative leaders were back in action by mid-April and kept busy in the month and a half before they recessed for the summer.
There were big bills that were signed into law – a $2.6 billion capital budget with projects across the state, and a fast-paced medical marijuana effort that will add Ohio to the list of states allowing the drug for specified medical conditions.
There were dozens of other bills that made the cut, too, and likely will afwfect you at some point in the future.
We’ll spotlight 60 of those changes over the next few days, with most of the provisions set to take effect in August and September.
Here’s 10 to kick off the list:
1 Checking the Numbers: State agencies and local public offices that want to cut their costs and streamline their operations will be able to seek help from the state auditor’s office, thanks to HB 5.
The legislation allows officials to ask the auditor to conduct feasibility studies to identify cost savings and opportunities for shared services.
“Uncertainty has kept too many of Ohio’s governments from reaping the cost-saving benefits of collaboration,” state Auditor Dave Yost said in a released statement. “This bill allows my office to provide clear answers to those looking to boost efficiency and safe tax dollars through sharing.”
2 Students and CPR: Think teens should be trained in life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques? HB 113 accomplishes that task, requiring schools to provide instruction in CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators as part of regular coursework.
The legislation also requires school employees to be trained in the latter.
The student requirement will start in the 2017-18 school year, though there’s an opt-out provision if parents request their kids be excused.
3 Other bills that impact students: There are a bunch of other school-related law changes in HB 113.
One removes several requirements for 16- and 17-year-old students wanting to take high-school equivalency tests.
There’s a wording change in state code, too, removing references to high-school equivalence diplomas, instead calling them “certificates of high school equivalence,” according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Service Commission.
4 Alibis: People facing criminal proceedings will have to make clear their alibis a little sooner under HB 123.
The bill requires criminal defendants to disclose alibi claims to prosecutors seven days before a trial, instead of the current three. A failure to do so may result in a court’s excluding evidence proving defendants’ alibis.
5 Sealing Convictions: People convicted of some crimes can, at a later date, ask a court to seal their records, thus blocking them from public perusal.
Some convictions are not eligible for sealing. HB 164 would allow someone who falls into that category to apply for records sealing, should their crimes be reclassified to allow it at some point in the future.
6 Battling Heroin: Lawmakers reduced the amount of heroin being sold or possessed in order to classify someone as a major drug offender.
Meaning it’ll take less heroin to result in longer and mandatory prison terms.
7 Sampling the Vintage: Would you like to sample and/or purchase Ohio-made wines at farmers markets? HB 178 will allow that, creating a new liquor permit allowing the sale of sealed bottles of wine and samples at farmers markets.
You’ll be limited to one sample, up to 1 ounce, of any given wine, with up to five varieties offered per day.
8 Online Registration: Starting next year, eligible Ohioans will be able to register to vote online, via a new system authorized as part of SB 63.
The legislation requires the secretary of state’s office to establish the system for initial registrations and address and other updates, with a launch in January.
When that time comes, you’ll have to provide their names, addresses, birth dates, the last four digits of their Social Security numbers and their driver’s license or state identification card number to complete the process.
9 Mechanic Training: Do you work on cars at an automobile dealership, tire store or other retail establishment? HB 429 might be up your alley. The bill allows automotive or motor-vehicle technicians to access grants and scholarships, via the state’s Incumbent Workforce Training Program.
Rep. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, a primary sponsor of the bill, said he offered the law changes after hearing from business owners in his district who were encouraged by the governor to apply to the state program to help bolster the workforce, only to have those applications rejected because auto techs weren’t among the in-demand jobs eligible for support.
10 Autocycles: Do you drive a Polaris Slingshot or Campagna T-Rex? There’s good news for you. As part of HB 429, lawmakers removed a requirement that drivers of those and other so-called “autocycles” gain motorcycle endorsements on their driver’s licenses.
The vehicles have two wheels in front and one in back. Autocycle registrations will run $14, and drivers will have to display a back license plate on the vehicles.