Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed several bills passed in the 127
th General Assembly, including House Bill 554, the $1.57 billion bipartisan economic stimulus package.
House Bill 554
State Representative Jay Hottinger sponsored House Bill 554, the $1.57 billion economic stimulus package, which makes investments in job-creating industries and in the state’s communities, infrastructure and workforce to stimulate job creation and lay a foundation for long-term economic growth. The governor exercised his line-item veto power on three provisions of the bill: (1.) language that limits scientists’ ability to conduct potentially life-saving stem cell research and hinders economic progress; (2.) the date (July 1, 2008) associated with the transfer of $200 million in budget stabilization funds to a local transportation fund for public works projects; and (3.) to change the name of the “Choose Ohio First Co-op/Internship Program” to the “Ohio Co-op/Internship Program,” to avoid confusion with the already existing Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, which applies exclusively to STEM disciplines.
Senate Bill 237
State Senator Tim Schaffer sponsored SB 237, which changes the requirements regarding the length of stays for guests in transient hotels. Additionally, the legislation changes the title of the Office of the Fire Marshal to the Office of State Fire Marshal.
Senate Bill 268State Senator Bill Seitz sponsored SB 268, which authorizes a county contracting authority to use competitive sealed proposals instead of competitive sealed bidding in certain circumstances and establishes specified regulations for a county contracting authority’s use of competitive sealed proposals.
Senate Bill 271
State Senator Larry Mumper sponsored SB 271, which enacts several legislative changes related to boating safety. Additionally, the legislation raises the boat horsepower limit on Pymatuning Lake in Ashtabula County from 9.9 hp to 20 hp. The bill contains an emergency clause so the provisions are in effect and enforceable for the 2008 boating season.
House Bill 30State Representative Ross McGregor sponsored HB 30, which requires a local authority to post signs when using traffic law photo-monitoring devices on a state highway and extends yellow lights by one second at intersections where such devices are being used. Additionally, the bill allows the Director of Transportation or a local authority to issue special permits for transporting steel coils.
House Bill 48State Representative Bob Gibbs sponsored HB 48, which allows charitable organizations and schools to sell donated items at an auction without having to license their organization.
House Bill 87State Representative Lynn Wachtmann sponsored HB 87, which designates the bridge on State Rt. 108 over the Maumee River in Napoleon as the “Henry County Veterans Bridge.”
House Bill 150State Representative Jim McGregor sponsored HB 150, which encourages retail establishments to allow customers with specified medical conditions to use restrooms not normally available to the public. Additionally, the bill designates May 23 as “Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Day.”
House Bill 181State Representative Arlene Setzer sponsored HB 181, which establishes notification and record-keeping procedures for a law enforcement agency and a school when a student from that school is the subject of a missing child report.
House Bill 283State Representative Shawn Webster sponsored HB 283, which allows for the possession and distribution of dangerous drugs, without a terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license, by certain business entities comprised solely of licensed health care professionals who are authorized to prescribe drugs and the professional services provided by the business entity.
House Bill 297State Representative Jim Carmichael sponsored HB 297, which designates May as “Ohio Lyme Disease Awareness Month.”
House Bill 346
State Representative Jim Hughes sponsored HB 346, which requires each hospital to create a written nursing services staffing plan that guides the assignment of nurses in the hospital.
House Bill 385
State Representative Jay Hottinger sponsored HB 385, which allows lands that were purchased by a board of township trustees to preserve as a “greenspace” to be used for recreational purposes.
House Bill 428State Representative Arlene Setzer sponsored HB 428, which establishes new provisions and makes several changes regarding the reporting of and discipline for school employee misconduct.
House Bill 499
State Representative Scott Oelslager sponsored HB 499, which provides clarifications and modifications to the Ohio Trust Code.