IMPORTANT Breaking News:
House Committee Approves Bill to Send ODH Orders to JCARR after 14 Days
The House State and Local Government Committee reported out SB1 (McColley-Roegner) after accepting a substitute bill that would limit the Ohio Department of Heath (ODH) director’s health orders to 14 days. Any extension of an ODH director’s order past 14 days must be approved by the 10-member Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) with three affirmative votes from both House and Senate JCARR members under the bill. The sub bill is on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.
House Votes to Remove Criminal Penalties for Violating Public Health Orders
The House has voted 58-35 to amend SB55 (Gavarone) to remove criminal penalties for violating public health orders relating to a pandemic. This was after they informally passed SB1 (McColley-Roegner). The bill went on to pass the House 70-23.
What does this MEAN?
“Eight Republican lawmakers approved an amendment Wednesday that would limit orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health to 14 days... The amendment Senate Bill 1 would require Gov. Mike DeWine and Health Department Director Amy Acton to seek approval from a bipartisan committee called the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review... The existing committee, which is made up of five representatives and five senators, would have to then approve their request with the support of at least three members from each chamber. If the committee failed to meet within those 14 days, the order would end.”
CALL TO ACTION:
We need to get EVERYONE calling EVERY Ohio Senator and DEMAND that they Pass Senate Bill 1 on Friday as Amended by the House and send it to the Governor to either sign or veto. This is an opportunity we did not see coming. Now we have to pressure the Senate to act. The House is going to pass this Thursday, EVERYONE must start Calling their Senators NOW and tell them to Pass Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 55 AS AMENDED by the Ohio House. Link to Senators:
www.OhioSenate.gov
