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Bills of interest to the Association pending in the 133rd Ohio Senate
Through December 31, 2020

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SB3

DRUG SENTENCING REFORM (EKLUND J, O'BRIEN S) To modify the controlled substance possession and trafficking prohibitions and penalties and the drug and alcohol abuse civil commitment mechanism.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (First Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Concerned with changes to drug trafficking and reduction of felony possession offenses to misdemeanors.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-3

 

SB5

PROMOTING PROSTITUTION PENALTIES (KUNZE S, DOLAN M) To amend the penalties for promoting prostitution.

 

Current Status:   

12/12/2019 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 3/12/2020

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-5

 

SB10

THEFT IN OFFICE PENALTIES (WILSON S) To expand the penalties for theft in office based on the amount stolen and to include as restitution audit costs of the entity that suffered the loss.

 

Current Status:   

9/21/2020 - House Appoints Managers; G. Lang, B. Seitz & D. Leland Named as House Conferees

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-10

 

SB12

TRAFFIC LAW PHOTO MONITORING (CRAIG H) To make changes to the laws governing traffic law photo-monitoring devices, other civil traffic violations, and related fines and fees.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2019 - Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-12

 

SB13

HUMAN TRAFFICKING-JUVENILES (FEDOR T) To require a juvenile court to hold a delinquency complaint in abeyance in certain cases related to prostitution or human trafficking and to provide that the same elements for the offense of trafficking in persons that apply to a victim under the age of sixteen also apply to a victim who is age sixteen or seventeen.

 

Current Status:   

2/13/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-13

 

SB15

JURY SOURCE LIST-INCLUDE BMV NAMES (THOMAS C) To require the names submitted by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to the commissioners of jurors to be included on the annual jury source list compiled by the commissioners.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2019 - Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-15

 

SB16

PEACE OFFICERS-PROPER INTERACTION (WILLIAMS S) Regarding instruction for peace officers, students, and new or student drivers on proper interactions with peace officers.

 

Current Status:   

9/23/2020 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 31-1

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-16

 

SB17

PROHIBIT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM IDENTIFICATION (YUKO K, ANTONIO N) To prohibit law enforcement agencies from including identifying information of sexual assault victims in police reports posted online.

 

Current Status:   

7/17/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Expand to include other sex offenses and offenses with sexual motivation.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-17

 

SB18

PROHIBIT CONFINING PREGNANT CRIMINALS (ANTONIO N, LEHNER P) To prohibit restraining or confining a woman or child who is a charged or adjudicated criminal offender or delinquent child at certain points during pregnancy or postpartum recovery.

 

Current Status:   

5/12/2020 - Referred to Committee House Criminal Justice

 

Comments:   

Concerned that the bill may be impractical from an implementation standpoint.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-18

 

SB19

EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER (WILLIAMS S) To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.

 

Current Status:   

9/10/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-19

 

SB28

PROTECTION ORDER VIOLATION PENALTIES (HOTTINGER J) To increase the penalty that applies to the offense of violating a protection order under certain circumstances.

 

Current Status:   

1/30/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-28

 

SB31

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW EXEMPTION-EMERGENCY SERVICE TELECOMMUNICATORS (ROEGNER K) To include emergency service telecommunicators as individuals whose residential and familial information is exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Law.

 

Current Status:   

9/16/2020 - Senate Appoints Managers; J. Eklund, K. Roegner & C. Thomas Named as Senate Conferees

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-31

 

SB33

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES OFFENSES (HOAGLAND F) To modify certain criminal offenses with respect to critical infrastructure facilities and to impose fines and civil liability for damage to a critical infrastructure facility.

 

Current Status:   

1/29/2020 - REPORTED OUT, House Public Utilities, (Seventh Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-33

 

SB43

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS, STRANGULATION (KUNZE S, ANTONIO N) To address domestic violence by means of firearms restrictions, penalty enhancements, and a prohibition against strangulation, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/2/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-43

 

SB47

UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONTACT WITH MINOR PETITIONS (EKLUND J) To create a procedure for certain offenders convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor to petition a court for reclassification or removal from duties under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Law and to permit record sealing in those cases.

 

Current Status:   

4/10/2019 - REPORTED OUT, Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-47

 

SB48

SPEEDY TRIAL RULES (EKLUND J) To narrow the scope of speedy trial rules.

 

Current Status:   

5/16/2019 - House Criminal Justice, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-48

 

SB49

BODY CAVITY SEARCHES (EKLUND J) To authorize a corrections officer to cause a body cavity search to be conducted or to conduct a strip search and to establish separate rules for conducting strip searches.

 

Current Status:   

4/2/2019 - REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-49

 

SB53

FIREARMS-DANGEROUS ORDNANCE (ROEGNER K) To clarify that certain firearms are not "dangerous ordnance" and to declare an emergency.

 

Current Status:   

2/26/2019 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 24-8, Emergency Clause 24-8

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-53

 

SB54

PROHIBIT DEATH PENALTY-MENTAL ILLNESS (EKLUND J, WILLIAMS S) To prohibit imposing the death penalty for aggravated murder when the offender had a serious mental illness at the time of the offense.

 

Current Status:   

7/17/2019 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Comments:   

The bill is so broadly written that it effectively ends the death penalty. Post-conviction relief provision allows everyone currently on death row to file for relief based on the assertion that they had one of the listed mental illnesses at the time of their crime. Concern about delegation to APA to define the listed mental illnesses. Remove post conviction relief, major depressive disorder, language about "rational judgment," and language about mental illness due "solely" to the effects of drug or alcohol abuse. See also House Bill 136.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-54

 

SB55

ENHANCE PENALTIES-DRUG TRAFFICKING (GAVARONE T) To enhance penalties for certain drug trafficking offenses committed in the vicinity of a community addiction services provider and to name the act's provisions the "Relapse Reduction Act."

 

Current Status:   

7/17/2020 - VETOED BY GOVERNOR

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-55

 

SB57

HEMP REGULATION (HILL B, HUFFMAN S) To establish conditions and requirements governing the regulation of hemp and hemp products, and to declare an emergency.

 

Current Status:   

7/30/2019 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; most provisions eff. 7/30/2019; certain provisions eff. 9/20/2019 and 3/22/2020

 

Comments:   

Concerned with impact on probable cause for marijuana and ability of BCI to test the level of THC.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-57

 

SB58

NONVIOLENT CRIMINALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (GAVARONE T) To express the intent of the General Assembly to reform the process of restoring the competency of individuals with serious mental illness charged with nonviolent crimes and to provide alternatives for treatment.

 

Current Status:   

12/10/2019 - House Health, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-58

 

SB62

PROHIBIT TRIGGER CRANKS, BUMP STOCKS (THOMAS C) To prohibit certain conduct regarding trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, and other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-62

 

SB63

FIREARM TRANSFERS (THOMAS C) To require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-63

 

SB64

RAISE MINIMUM AGE-FIREARM PURCHASES (THOMAS C) To raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to age 21 and to increase the penalty for improperly furnishing firearms to an underage person.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-64

 

SB65

FIREARM TRANSFERS-GUN SHOWS (THOMAS C) To regulate the transfer of firearms at a gun show.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-65

 

SB70

PROHIBIT FELONY QUESTION-JOB APPLICATIONS (WILLIAMS S) To prohibit private employers from including on an employment application any question concerning whether an applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony.

 

Current Status:   

3/4/2020 - Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-70

 

SB99

ELIMINATE MANDATORY BINDOVERS (THOMAS C) To eliminate mandatory bindovers and reverse bindovers, and modify the law governing a discretionary bindover, of an alleged juvenile offender from a juvenile court to a criminal court.

 

Current Status:   

3/12/2019 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-99

 

SB100

PAROLE ELIGIBILITY-JUVENILES (THOMAS C) Relative to parole eligibility for persons with an indefinite or life sentence imposed for an offense committed when the person was less than 18 years of age.

 

Current Status:   

3/27/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-100

 

SB108

ELIMINATE RULE OF CONSTRUCTION-AMBIGUOUS STATUTES (OBHOF L) To eliminate the rule of construction regarding a court's considerations in determining the intention of the legislature when a statute is ambiguous.

 

Current Status:   

5/28/2019 - House Civil Justice, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-108

 

SB111

SPORTS WAGERING (EKLUND J, O'BRIEN S) To permit the Ohio Casino Control Commission to regulate sports wagering and to levy a tax on businesses that provide sports wagering.

 

Current Status:   

11/6/2019 - Senate General Government and Agency Review , (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-111

 

SB118

INCREASE ASSAULT PENALTIES-SPORTS OFFICIALS (ROEGNER K) To increase the penalty for assault if the victim is acting as a sports official or the assault is committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official.

 

Current Status:   

9/18/2019 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Creates special class of victim.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-118

 

SB133

MANAGEMENT OF RELEASED OFFENDERS (O'BRIEN S) To modify the Corrections Law regarding a Department of Rehabilitation and Correction reentry program for certain offenders, maximum workload and caseload standards for parole and field officers, GPS monitoring of offenders released from prison, and entry into LEADS of specified information about GPS-monitored offenders, and to require the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission to appoint an Offender Supervision Study Committee.

 

Current Status:   

11/13/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-133

 

SB134

PASSING SCHOOL BUSSES (GAVARONE T) To make changes to the law governing passing a school bus, to create a new offense for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault related to improperly passing a stopped school bus, to make an appropriation, and to designate this the School Bus Safety Act.

 

Current Status:   

5/19/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (First Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Amend to provide that passing a stopped school bus is per se recklessness for purposes of aggravated vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular assault.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-134

 

SB140

EXEMPT KNIVES-CONCEALED WEAPONS (UECKER J) To exempt knives not used as weapons from the prohibition against carrying concealed weapons and to eliminate the prohibition against manufacturing, possessing for sale, selling, or furnishing certain weapons other than firearms or dangerous ordnance.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-140

 

SB143

AGGRAVATED BULLYING (WILLIAMS S) To create the offense of aggravated bullying, a third-degree misdemeanor.

 

Current Status:   

7/17/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-143

 

SB144

AGGRAVATED BULLYING-DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE (WILLIAMS S) To require a tiered disciplinary procedure for and student instruction on preventing harassment, intimidation, or bullying in school and to create the offense of aggravated bullying as a third-degree misdemeanor.

 

Current Status:   

9/25/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-144

 

SB146

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-CHOKING (KUNZE S, ANTONIO N) To expand the offense of domestic violence to also prohibit a person from knowingly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of a family or household member by applying pressure to the family or household member's throat or neck or blocking the family or household member's nose or mouth.

 

Current Status:   

10/2/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-146

 

SB152

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CAR INSURANCE (HUFFMAN M) To alter the penalties related to the failure to maintain motor vehicle insurance, to require the Lima Municipal Court to establish a pilot program governing the repayment of driver's license reinstatement and court fees, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

5/15/2019 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-152

 

SB156

DRUG SCREENINGS (GAVARONE T) To prohibit defrauding an alcohol, drug, or urine screening test.

 

Current Status:   

5/28/2020 - House Criminal Justice, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Need to ensure that the bill will not prohibit a tampering charge for individuals on community control.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-156

 

SB160

RECORDS EXPUNGEMENT (O'BRIEN S, RULLI M) To provide a mechanism for the expungement of records of most convictions that, depending on the category of the offense, are at least 10 years old, 15 years old, or 20 years old, and to eliminate the waiting period for sealing a record related to a no bill.

 

Current Status:   

9/25/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Ability to destroy the records of F1 and F2 offenses goes too far. Disfavor expungement altogether.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-160

 

SB162

ELIMINATE PERIOD OF LIMITATION-RAPE (ANTONIO N, O'BRIEN S) To eliminate the spousal exceptions for certain sex offenses, to permit a person to testify against the person's spouse in a prosecution for any of those offenses, to eliminate the period of limitation for the criminal prosecution of a person for rape and for a civil action brought by a victim of conduct that would constitute rape.

 

Current Status:   

2/19/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-162

 

SB166

UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONTACT-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (KUNZE S, CRAIG H) To prohibit unlawful sexual contact between health care professionals and patients and to revoke professional licenses for criminal misconduct.

 

Current Status:   

10/2/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-166

 

SB179

REQUIRE TWO LICENSE PLATES (UECKER J, HOTTINGER J) To retain and continue current law requiring the display of two license plates for most motor vehicles.

 

Current Status:   

12/11/2019 - Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-179

 

SB182

RAISE MINIMUM AGE-FIREARM PURCHASES (THOMAS C, LEHNER P) To raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to age 21 and to increase the penalty for improperly furnishing firearms to an underage person.

 

Current Status:   

1/21/2020 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-182

 

SB183

FIREARM TRANSFERS (THOMAS C, LEHNER P) To require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-183

 

SB184

EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDER (WILLIAMS S, LEHNER P) To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.

 

Current Status:   

9/17/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Reintroduction of legislation from the 132nd General Assembly. Concerns with due process and implementation.

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-184

 

SB194

VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEMS (RULLI M) To rename the Board of Voting Machine Examiners as the Board of Voting Equipment Examiners, to require the Board to approve voter registration systems for use in Ohio, and to require a board of elections to decide a protest against a candidate filing within ten days.

 

Current Status:   

5/5/2020 - Referred to Committee House State and Local Government

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-194

 

SB196

TESTIMONIAL PRIVILEGE-SEX CRIMES (EKLUND J) To provide generally a testimonial privilege for communications between a qualified advocate rendering advocacy services and a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, menacing by stalking, or sexual violence, to exempt the nondisclosure of that privileged communication from the offense of failure to report a crime, to require a qualified advocate to report knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect of the victim except for privileged communications, and to specify circumstances in which the victim is considered to have waived the privilege.

 

Current Status:   

11/6/2019 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Testimonial privileges are in derogation of the search for truth. They result in occasional injustice. Benefit of the privilege must be weighed against the cost. See also House Bill 337.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-196

 

SB202

LOCAL FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS (THOMAS C, CRAIG H) To restore local authority to generally regulate firearms-related conduct.

 

Current Status:   

10/23/2019 - Senate General Government and Agency Review , (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-202

 

SB203

FIREARMS TRANSFERS-GUN SHOWS (THOMAS C, LEHNER P) To regulate the transfer of firearms at a gun show.

 

Current Status:   

11/5/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-203

 

SB205

ANIMAL CRUELTY (HOTTINGER J, O'BRIEN S) To increase the penalties for serious acts of cruelty towards or the killing of a companion animal.

 

Current Status:   

9/23/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Penalties are disproportionate to the harm. Provides a higher penalty than currently exists for some child abuse and domestic violence offenses.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-205

 

SB217

REQUIRE SEX OFFENDER LICENSE PLATE (SCHAFFER T) To create a SORN Law license plate and to require all Tier II and Tier III sex offender and child-victim offenders to display such license plates when operating a vehicle in this state.

 

Current Status:   

10/23/2019 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-217

 

SB221

FIREARMS REGULATIONS (DOLAN M) To provide for the issuance in specified circumstances of a Safety Protection Order to apply regarding a person who a court determines is under a drug dependency, chronic alcoholic, or mental health-related firearms disability; to specify LEADS and NCIC reporting and removal procedures for current types of protection orders; to require the submission to the Attorney General for inclusion in LEADS of findings of IST or NGRI; to modify some of the prohibitions under the offense of "unlawful transactions in weapons" and add new prohibitions and exemptions under the offense, including a new exemption if a state background check mechanism the bill enacts is used and does not indicate that the prospective transferee is barred from firearms possession; to provide in specified circumstances for the issuance of a seller's protection certificate under the new state background check mechanism; to increase the penalty for certain firearms-related offenses in specified circumstances; to modify the law governing the entry of arrest warrants into LEADS as extradition warrants; to expand the law regarding the provision of drug and alcohol test results to law enforcement personnel; and to provide a new exception to the testimonial privilege for specified medical and dental personnel regarding certain probate court proceedings.

 

Current Status:   

12/3/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-221

 

SB223

PROHIBIT FIREARMS ACCESSORIES (THOMAS C, LEHNER P) To generally prohibit a person from possessing trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, or other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm and large capacity magazines.

 

Current Status:   

11/5/2019 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-223

 

SB225

CHILD ABUSE REPORTING (LEHNER P) To require public schools to post signs with a child abuse reporting telephone number.

 

Current Status:   

1/21/2020 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-225

 

SB237

SELF-DEFENSE (JOHNSON T) To enact the Ohio Duty to Retreat Act to modify the law regarding self-defense.

 

Current Status:   

1/21/2020 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Opposed to provisions that provide for pretrial immunity, use of deadly force to repel "forcible felonies," and repeal of reasonable duty to retreat. See also House Bill 381.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-237

 

SB239

PROHIBIT SEXTING (MANNING N) To generally prohibit sexting by a person under 19 years of age.

 

Current Status:   

2/5/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Amend elements to prohibit creating or possessing. Make the offense an M1 with standard penalties.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-239

 

SB247

PROHIBIT PROSTITUTION (SCHAFFER T, FEDOR T) To prohibit a person from engaging in prostitution and receiving proceeds of prostitution, to modify certain soliciting offenses and penalties, to create the Sexual Exploitation Public Database, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/19/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

Support in concept. Concerns with "engaging in prostitution" offense vs. elements of "soliciting." Sentencing issue in "engaging in prostitution" section because it provides for an M1 with a fine and education. Seemingly excludes possibility of jail or other sanctions.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-247

 

SB253

STUDENT THREAT OF VIOLENCE (KUNZE S) Regarding expulsion of a student from a public school for communicating a threat of violence to occur on school grounds.

 

Current Status:   

2/11/2020 - Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-253

 

SB255

LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES-MONITORING (ANTONIO N, BRENNER A) To permit a resident of a long-term care facility to conduct electronic monitoring of the resident's room, to designate this act as "Esther's Law," and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

1/29/2020 - Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-255

 

SB256

BAR LIFE SENTENCE-UNDER 18 (MANNING N, LEHNER P) Regarding a bar against a sentence of life without parole, and special parole dates, for offenders who committed the offense when under age 18, and to amend the version of section 2907.02 of the Revised Code that takes effect on March 22, 2020, to continue the provisions of this act on and after that date.

 

Current Status:   

9/23/2020 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 28-4

 

Comments:   

  • The bill goes far beyond what is constitutionally required by the Graham, Miller, Moore line of U.S. and Ohio Supreme Court cases to just rewrite our sentencing laws
  • Opposed to repeal of discretionary juvenile life without parole
  • Opposed to substantially reduced timelines for parole eligibility that are disconnected from seriousness of offense(s)
  • Opposed to parole board consideration of same factors of youth as sentencing court

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-256

 

SB265

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PENALTY (KUNZE S) To increase the penalty for the offense of domestic violence when the victim is a functionally impaired person.

 

Current Status:   

2/12/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-265

 

SB278

PAROLE PROCEDURES (EKLUND J, LEHNER P) To modify parole procedures regarding prisoner access to information and materials, presence of counsel, uniform standards, and appeals of decisions.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Comments:   

  • Presumptive parole is likely unconstitutional in light of Marsy's Law. 
  • Unnecessarily limits the scope of what the parole board can consider in denying parole. 
  • Fails to connect release on parole to completion of any rehabilitative programming or other demonstrated rehabilitation by the offender.  

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-278

 

SB279

PROHIBIT PHONES WHILE DRIVING (MAHARATH T) To generally prohibit the use of electronic wireless devices while driving.

 

Current Status:   

3/4/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-279

 

SB285

DISTRACTED DRIVING (O'BRIEN S, KUNZE S) To revise the laws relative to distracted driving and the use of an electronic wireless communications device while driving.

 

Current Status:   

9/22/2020 - Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-285

 

SB290

CRIMINAL TRESSPASS (COLEY W) To amend the law governing criminal trespass to specify that placing purple paint marks on trees or posts constitutes posting notice in a manner reasonably calculated to come to the attention of potential intruders.

 

Current Status:   

9/22/2020 - Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-290

 

SB293

OPEN MEETINGS LAW COMPLAINTS (MANNING N, BLESSING III L) To create a procedure within the Court of Claims to hear complaints alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Law.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - House Civil Justice, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-293

 

SB296

ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY (ANTONIO N, LEHNER P) To abolish the death penalty.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-296

 

SB297

PROHIBIT FORECLOSURES, EVICTIONS (ANTONIO N, CRAIG H) To prohibit foreclosure activity and the eviction of residential and commercial tenants during the state of emergency declared regarding COVID-19, to refer such proceedings caused by the state of emergency to mediation, and to declare an emergency.

 

Current Status:   

7/21/2020 - Senate General Government and Agency Review , (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-297

 

SB317

ARMED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES (COLEY W) To expressly exempt, from a requirement that peace officer basic training be obtained, certain employees that a board of education or governing body of a school authorizes to go armed in a school safety zone within which the board or governing body has authority.

 

Current Status:   

9/1/2020 - REPORTED OUT, Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (Third Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-317

 

SB323

ABSENTEE VOTING, ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION (ANTONIO N, WILLIAMS S) To modify the law governing absent voting and online voter registration, to make other changes to the Election Law, and to declare an emergency.

 

Current Status:   

6/10/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Government Oversight and Reform

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-323

 

SB337

PROSECUTE POLICE-CAUSED DEATHS (WILLIAMS S) To establish the duties and authority of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute cases relating to the death of a person caused by a peace officer.

 

Current Status:   

7/21/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-337

 

SB338

PROHIBIT BIASED POLICING (WILLIAMS S) To prohibit police officers from engaging in biased policing and other status-based profiling, and to require the attorney general's office to establish rules regarding such police practices.

 

Current Status:   

7/21/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-338

 

SB353

BAIL, BOND REFORM MEASURES (HUFFMAN S, MANNING N) To modify the pretrial detention and release laws regarding risk assessment tools, bond schedules, non-cash release methods, a continuum of pretrial supervision options, cite-and-release, pretrial screening and diversion, criminal justice system personnel training, a statewide bail data collection system, and request Supreme Court modification of certain rules.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Comments:   

  • Includes no funding for pretrial services
  • Calls for adoption of Criminal Rule 46 as proposed by Supreme Court Task Force. We just successfully achieved changes to what this Task Force proposed. 
  • Concern with portion of bill that calls for cite and release.  

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-353

 

SB356

TAX FORECLOSURES, COUNTY LAND BANKS (DOLAN M) To make changes to the law relating to tax foreclosures and county land reutilization corporations.

 

Current Status:   

9/1/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-356

 

SB359

CIVIL ACTION AGAINST POLICE (SCHAFFER T) Regarding a civil action for a law enforcement officer based on a civil rights abridgement or false complaint, and modifications to "assault," "felonious assault," and "intimidation" regarding conduct committed because a person is or is perceived to be an emergency service responder, public servant, family member, or co-worker.

 

Current Status:   

9/23/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-359

 

SB360

PROHIBIT BANS-FIREARMS SALES (OBHOF L) To generally bar public officials from prohibiting all federally licensed firearms dealers in the state or a specified geographic area from the commercial sale or transfer of firearms or their components or ammunition.

 

 Current Status:   

9/23/2020 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 27-4

 

Comments:   

  • The definition of federally licensed firearms dealer is too narrow. Includes only a small number of dealers.

 

Position:   

Amend

 

Priority:   

Tier 2 - Medium

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-360

 

SB366

ASSAULT BY POLICE (WILLIAMS S) To prohibit assault by a law enforcement officer.

 

Current Status:   

9/22/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-366

 

SB369

CRIME VICTIMS-REPARATIONS (LEHNER P, MANNING N) To revise the eligibility standards and procedure for awarding reparations to crime victims.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Position:   

Monitor

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-369

 

SB370

ARSON PENALTIES (BRENNER A) To increase penalties for arson offenses and related offenses and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Position:   

Support

 

Priority:   

Tier 3 - Low

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-370

 

SB377

COURT CONSENT-PRISONER TRANSFERS (MANNING N, SYKES V) To eliminate the requirement that a sentencing court must assent to the transfer of a prisoner to a transitional control program.

 

Current Status:   

11/10/2020 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

Comments:   

Violation of separation of powers to allow executive branch to override sentencing decision of judicial branch. Undoes compromise from several years ago when agreed to maintain judicial veto for sentences of two years or less. Many offenders with sentences of two years or less have enough credit for time served that they are immediately eligible for transitional control by the time the judge decides that prison is necessary. Undermines the determination made at the local level that a prison sentence was appropriate.

 

Position:   

Oppose

 

Priority:   

Tier 1 - High

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-SB-377

Bill information courtesy of Hannah News Service, Inc.

 

 

 
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