OII Legislative Update
Governor’s Budget Proposals
HB 52 -- BWC BUDGET(Hackett, B.) To make changes to the Workers' Compensation Law, to make appropriations for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2017, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of the Bureau's programs.
The BWC Budget remains in the Senate Transportation, Commerce & Labor committee.
HB 64 -- BIENNIAL BUDGET(Smith, R.)
To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2017, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.
As the budget process continues in the Senate, the subcommittees finished meeting this week, the amendments will be due next week, and then full finance will begin hearings on the sub-bill, most likely, the week after that.
We have also continued working with Senators to ensure that the premium tax amendment we successfully got into the House would also be a part of the Senate’s version. Similarly, we are treating this process as though they are working from a blank slate – meaning that we are continuing to advocate against the sales tax increase components from the Executive version which were ultimately stripped from the House version.The same holds true regarding P3 bonding, as we have continue to meet with legislators and had expert testimony given by Steve Rae, of Liberty Mutual Surety, in the Senate Workforce Subcommittee this week regarding the P3 bonding amendment.
Legislation of Interest
HB 107 – SPEED LIMITS
Representatives Stinziano and Retherford’s bill would permit a person or neighborhood association or organization to request the Director of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on the street or highway of the person's residence or a street or highway located within the area of representation of the association or organization if the street or highway has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per hour, and to permit a person or neighborhood association or organization to request the Director or a local authority to erect a stop sign at an intersection where currently no stop sign is present.
Last week Patricia Kovacs of the Ohio Bicycle Federation testified on the bill, noting that the speed of existing traffic is a major factor involving neighborhood accidents. The Ohio Alliance of the YMCA’s also noted that many communities are once again becoming more walkable and bikeable, making it important for residents to be able to impact the safety decisions within their community.
HB 186 – MOTOR FUEL
Representative Burkley’s bill Creates a qualified immunity for the dispensing of incompatible motor fuel, limits the Product Liability Law with respect to motor fuel and motor fuel additives, and prohibits an insurer from denying a claim on the basis that an underground storage tank is not compatible with a motor fuel if the State Fire Marshal has determined otherwise.
Rep. Burkley gave testimony this week, and in response to questions about the bill, noted that it would require retailers to clearly indentify the fuels that would be dispensed from different pumps, but would protect them from potential suites that may claim damage to vehicles. But, he also clarified that the measure only assures immunity for issues related to the improper use of fuel, and doesn’t cover issues that might arise from negligence of the retailer.
Note that SB 37 by Senator Uecker is the companion bill to HB 186, was referred to Senate Transportation committee, but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
HB 149 – ATTORNEY’S FEES
Sponsored by Representatives Dever and Patterson, this would make permissive actual damages and attorney's fees, limit certain civil penalties, allow respondents to recover attorney's fees in certain instances, and exempt certain landlords from the housing provisions of the Ohio Civil Rights Law.
Several individuals testified this week in opposition to this bill, including Leonard Huber, Chairman of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Bill Faith of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, and Gary Daniels of the ACLU of Ohio. It was fairly consistently argued by the opponents that this bill would essentially legalize housing discrimination.