| December 21, 2018
OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top three things you need to know from this past week:
- The "lame duck" session has not yet ended as the Senate is scheduled to come back to the Statehouse to address veto overrides, but we believe the most significant work for this General Assembly has been completed. Any legislation that did not make it through the legislative process next year will more than likely be introduced in the next General Assembly in January. The League will be taking a brief hiatus from sending bulletins during the holiday season and will resume after the first of the year.
- This week, Governor Kasich vetoed HB 228, the bill that shifts the burden of proof in deadly force in self defense cases to the prosecution. The bill also contained two amendments that preempt local rule: one prohibits a municipality from issuing firearm restriction ordinances and the other allows individuals to sue municipalities for perceived infringements of 2nd Amendment rights. It is unclear if the General Assembly will reconvene to override the governor's veto before the end of the year.
- Ohio Senate Democrats have announced Sen. Yuko (D - Richmond Heights) has been re-elected as minority leader, while Sen. Thomas (D - Cincinnati) was elected to serve as assistant minority leader, Sen. O'Brien (D - Cortland) will serve as minority whip and Sen. Williams (D - Cleveland) will serve as assistant minority whip.
LEGISLATION SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
Here is the legislation that affects municipalities signed by Governor Kasich this week:
- SB 51 - LAKE ERIE. Sponsored by Rep. Skindell (D - Lakewood) and Sen. Eklund (R - Munson Township), will authorize the creation of a special improvement district to facilitate Lake Erie shoreline improvement, revise other laws governing taxation and public property and otherwise provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs, and make appropriations. The League is supportive of this legislation.
- HB 531 - SPORTS GRANTS. Sponsored by Rep. Schuring (R - Canton) and Rep. Greenspan (R - Westlake), would remove limitations on the amount of sports events grants that may be awarded in a fiscal year, adjust the amount that may be awarded for a specific event, modify eligibility requirements for such grants, and make an appropriation. The League is supportive of this legislation.
LEGISLATION OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST PASSED BY SENATE
Here are the bills effecting municipalities that were passed by the Senate this week:
- HB 422 - MUNICIPAL SEWER ACQUISITIONS. Sponsored by Rep. Ginter (R - Salem) and Rep. Rodgers (D - Mentor-on-the-Lake), would govern acquisitions of municipal water-works and sewage disposal system companies by certain larger nonmunicipal water-works or sewage disposal system companies. It was passed by a vote of 32 to 0. The League is supportive of this legislation.
- HB 425 - BODY CAMERAS. Sponsored by Rep. Antani (R - Miami Township), would provide that specified portions of peace officers' body-worn camera recordings and the infrastructure record of a public school are not public records for purposes of the Public Records Law. The bill was informally passed. The League is supportive of this legislation.
- SB 268 - THEFT IN OFFICE. Sponsored by Sen. Wilson (R - Maineville), would expand the increased penalties for theft in office based on the amount of property or services stolen, include as restitution certain audit costs of the entity that suffered the loss involved in the offense, for any other offense, allow restitution for the cost of accounting or auditing done to determine the extent of economic loss, require certain convention and visitors' bureaus to make available for inspection by the public all meeting minutes, vendor payment information, and financial information, permit intrastate equity crowdfunding under certain circumstances, to provide for a hardship exemption from the requirement that financial statements filed under the Securities Law be audited, replace expungement with sealing of ex parte protection orders and records under certain circumstances, and clarify the appellate process for the court's refusal to grant certain protection orders. The bill was informally passed. The League is supportive of this legislation.
STAFF CHANGES AT THE OHIO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
Two members of the League staff are leaving at the end of the year. Accountant Joyce Richardson is retiring after working at the League for 47 years. Legislative Advocate Rachel Massoud will be leaving effective December 21
st to join the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to work on matters pertaining to health and human services. We will miss them both and we wish them well!
We want to wish all of our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at the League!
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