Ohio Legislative News
By Amanda Sines | August 2018
OSCA Leaders Meet with Rep. Reineke
OSCA representatives Brandi Cooper and WillaMarie Jackson made a journey to Columbus on June 27, 2018, to meet with Representative Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin). Rep. Reineke is a member of the Ohio House of Representative’s leadership team and has a passion for workforce development. This was a great opportunity for OSCA leaders to speak with a legislative leader about the role school counselors play in career and post-graduation planning. We hope other school counselors will follow their example and take the time to speak with your own state legislators about the importance of school counselors!
OSCA Signs on to Letter Urging Action of Gun Safety Legislation
The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate have legislation pending in their chambers addressing gun safety. The bills have several common-sense provisions to strengthen Ohio laws regarding gun safety and harmonizing Ohio law to federal law. Unfortunately, House Bill 585 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Henne) and Senate Bill 288 (sponsored by Senators Stephanie Kunze and John Eklund) have lagged in committee without much action. OSCA signed on to a letter on June 14 with other education groups, gun safety advocates, clergy, law enforcement and others urging actions on these bills. This letter was distributed to every member of the General Assembly.
OSCA Urges Opposition to HB 658
Recently two legislators, Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) and Paul Zeltwanger (R-Mason) introduced controversial legislation regarding treatment for gender dysphoria. The legislation is troubling in many ways, but it would specifically allow for criminal penalties against school counselors and others who do not “out” students as gender dysphoric to their parents or guardians. It also prohibits any treatment or counseling to these minors without parental consent.
OSCA and the Ohio Counseling Association are working on a joint statement of opposition. With the legislature on summer recess, the bill is not expected to get any action until after the November elections, if at all. Should there be a hearing accepting opponent testimony, OSCA and OCA intend to present testimony in opposition to this dangerous legislation.
Bill Regarding Youth Suicide Training Passes House or Representatives
Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) introduced two bills regarding youth suicide. HB 502 would require certain public school employees to undergo training in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs once every two years. Originally, the bill proposed annual training, but through the committee process it was amended to be every two years. The bill was unanimously passed by the House of Representative on June 27, 2018, and will now be considered by the Ohio Senate.
Legislation Passed to Create Training Standards for SROs, Among Other Things
House Bill 318 was introduced by Representatives John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and Sarah LaTourette (R-Chagrin Falls). The bill originally was intended to define the qualifications and duties of a school resource officer. House Bill 318 was being considered in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. The legislature took the opportunity to add additional provisions to the bill.
As passed by the both chambers of the General Assembly, the bill does the following in addition to the original SRO provisions:
Before adjourning for the summer recess, legislators introduced the following bills for consideration. We do not expect these bills to see any activity before the November elections.
OSCA representatives Brandi Cooper and WillaMarie Jackson made a journey to Columbus on June 27, 2018, to meet with Representative Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin). Rep. Reineke is a member of the Ohio House of Representative’s leadership team and has a passion for workforce development. This was a great opportunity for OSCA leaders to speak with a legislative leader about the role school counselors play in career and post-graduation planning. We hope other school counselors will follow their example and take the time to speak with your own state legislators about the importance of school counselors!
OSCA Signs on to Letter Urging Action of Gun Safety Legislation
The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate have legislation pending in their chambers addressing gun safety. The bills have several common-sense provisions to strengthen Ohio laws regarding gun safety and harmonizing Ohio law to federal law. Unfortunately, House Bill 585 (sponsored by Rep. Mike Henne) and Senate Bill 288 (sponsored by Senators Stephanie Kunze and John Eklund) have lagged in committee without much action. OSCA signed on to a letter on June 14 with other education groups, gun safety advocates, clergy, law enforcement and others urging actions on these bills. This letter was distributed to every member of the General Assembly.
OSCA Urges Opposition to HB 658
Recently two legislators, Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) and Paul Zeltwanger (R-Mason) introduced controversial legislation regarding treatment for gender dysphoria. The legislation is troubling in many ways, but it would specifically allow for criminal penalties against school counselors and others who do not “out” students as gender dysphoric to their parents or guardians. It also prohibits any treatment or counseling to these minors without parental consent.
OSCA and the Ohio Counseling Association are working on a joint statement of opposition. With the legislature on summer recess, the bill is not expected to get any action until after the November elections, if at all. Should there be a hearing accepting opponent testimony, OSCA and OCA intend to present testimony in opposition to this dangerous legislation.
Bill Regarding Youth Suicide Training Passes House or Representatives
Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) introduced two bills regarding youth suicide. HB 502 would require certain public school employees to undergo training in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs once every two years. Originally, the bill proposed annual training, but through the committee process it was amended to be every two years. The bill was unanimously passed by the House of Representative on June 27, 2018, and will now be considered by the Ohio Senate.
Legislation Passed to Create Training Standards for SROs, Among Other Things
House Bill 318 was introduced by Representatives John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and Sarah LaTourette (R-Chagrin Falls). The bill originally was intended to define the qualifications and duties of a school resource officer. House Bill 318 was being considered in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. The legislature took the opportunity to add additional provisions to the bill.
As passed by the both chambers of the General Assembly, the bill does the following in addition to the original SRO provisions:
- Appropriates $12 million in FY 2019 for the attorney general, in consultation with the superintendent of Public Instruction and the director of Mental Health and Addiction Services, to award grants to public and chartered non-public schools for school safety and school climate programs and training.
- Clarifies that each school must implement a positive behavioral intervention and supports (PBIS) framework and provides a list of potential objectives.
- Requires all teacher preparation programs to include PBIS instruction for all their students pursuing a license to teach in any of grades pre-K through five.
- Prohibits out-of-school suspension or expulsion of students in grades pre-K through three for minor offenses but delays full implementation of the prohibition until the 2021-2022 school year.
- Reduces from three school days to one school day the time within which a hearing must be held on a student's emergency removal for posing a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption.
Before adjourning for the summer recess, legislators introduced the following bills for consideration. We do not expect these bills to see any activity before the November elections.
- Senator Joe Schiavoni (D) introduced SB 314 to require school districts to employ school psychologists and intervention specialists and to provide an additional state payment to school districts for school psychologist and intervention specialist services.
- Representative Nathan Manning (R) introduced HB 702 to appropriate $2.6 million to distribute grants of $50,000 to each educational service center to support the employment of one or more social workers at the center.