Policy/Legislative Issues

The following legislative summary is provided for informational purposes only.  Status of legislation may have changed since publication of this update.

SB141
COMMUNITY SCHOOL SPONSORS (PADGETT, J) To make changes in the law regarding the approval and monitoring by the Department of Education of community school sponsors.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - Senate Education, (Fifth Hearing)
Comments:
No witnesses testified at the committee hearing.

SB273
CLASSROOM FACILITIES ASSISTANCE (NIEHAUS, T) To calculate an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 for purposes of determining school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - Senate Finance and Financial Institutions, (Second Hearing)
Comments:
Michael Shoemaker, executive director of the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC), said this bill would allow as many as 16 school districts to move forward with school building construction projects, without any additional costs to the state by removing an incentive for them to wait until open enrollment students can be included in their equity rating calculation.

SB264
TEACHER STRIKES (CAREY, JR., J) To prohibit classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking and instead require binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes and to make an appropriation.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - Senate Education, (Third Hearing)
HB428
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES MISCONDUCT (SETZER, A) Regarding the reporting of and the discipline for school employee misconduct.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - House Education, (Fourth Hearing)
Comments:
Lori Kelly, associate director for the Office of Professional Conduct at the Ohio Department of Education, took questions from the committee. Chair Setzer said she has been hearing concerns about what may happen when a student who may not have liked a teacher files a false allegation and where does that allegation fit under this legislation. Kelly said it starts on the district level, who must decide whether to report it to law enforcement or children services. The district can also investigate, and if nothing is found, then nothing happens, but if the district would begin to implement termination proceedings or other discipline, than the provisions of the bill would kick in.
SB270
SCHOOL EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT (CATES, G) Regarding the reporting of and discipline for school employee misconduct.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - Senate Education, (Third Hearing)
Comments:
No witnesses testified at the committee hearing.
HB347
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSE (SETZER, A) To replace the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license with assessment systems developed by school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools.
Current Status:
2/5/2008 - House Education, (Fifth Hearing)
Comments:
The bill was not heard by the committee at the request of the sponsor.
HB452
CLASSROOM FACILITIES ASSISTANCE (BOOK, T) To calculate an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 for purposes of determining school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.
Current Status:
1/30/2008 - Referred to Finance and Appropriations Committee
HB424
SCHOOLS (SETZER, A) To eliminate the performance index score as a factor in school district and building performance ratings, to make changes in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, and to make changes in the requirement that schools offer dual enrollment programs.
Current Status:
1/29/2008 - House Education, (First Hearing)
Comments:
Rep. Setzer testified that a subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning studied post secondary enrollment options (PSEO). Soon after the committee met, it decided not just to include PSEO but also dual enrollment and other accelerated learning programs.

The subcommittee did reach some conclusions, she said, but the terms of many of the members expired before a complete report of the recommendations was issued. She said with a number of new members appointed to the Partnership for Continued Learning, she felt that it was necessary to bring forth some of the conclusions from that subcommittee and provide a platform for the governor to execute his ideas of using set aside dollars in the budget that are directed to PSEO.

HB445
SCHOOL DISTRICT STATE AID (SCHLICHTER, J) To require adjustments in a school district's state education aid and Classroom Facilities Assistance Program rankings to correct certification of tax-exempt property erroneously treated as taxable property.
Current Status:
1/29/2008 - Referred to Finance and Appropriations Committee
HB423
TEACHERS (SETZER, A) To revise the eligibility for state stipends to National Board certified teachers; to permit school districts, educational service centers, and county MR/DD boards to pay wage rate differentials above their regular salary schedules for certain teachers; and to specify that teacher wage rate differentials, the length of the school year, and the length of the school day are not subjects for collective bargaining.
Current Status:
1/22/2008 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

Excerpted from Roetzel & Andress’ Ohio Association of Career Technical Superintendents Legislative Update of February 5, 2008. This newsletter is informational only and should not be construed as legal advice. ©2008 Roetzel & Andress, A Legal Professional Association