House Bill No. 13
Date Posted: 05/27/2010

Background Info: To amend sections 2907.06, 2950.13, and 2950.99 and to enact sections 2950.035 and 2950.044 of the Revised Code to prohibit Tier III sex offender/child victim offenders who have committed specified offenses against a victim under 16 years of age from knowingly being present on school premises or preschool or child day-care center premises and to increase the penalty for a first offense of sexual imposition to a misdemeanor of the first degree in specified circumstances.

Contact Info: State Rep. Marian Harris (D-Columbus)
District: 19
Term: 1st
Term Limit: Eligible to run for another two-year term
Address:
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-4847
Fax: (614) 719-6958
Email: district19@ohr.state.oh.us

State Rep. Jennifer Garrison
District: 93
Term: 3rd
Term Limit: Eligible to run for another two-year term
Address:
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-8728
Fax: (614) 719-6993
Email: district93@ohr.state.oh.us


Read the bill as passed by the Ohio House: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_13

Highlights of Senate Bill 263 – Casino Implementation
Date Posted: 05/17/2010

Background Info: Ohio Constitution Article XV, section 6, authorizing casino gaming in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo, requires the General Assembly to pass laws to facilitate operation of the amendment.  Below is a summary of the required implementing legislation.

Creates the Ohio Casino Control Commission to ensure the integrity of casino gaming and to license, regulate, investigate, and penalize casino operators, management and holding companies, employees, and vendors.

 - Seven members appointed by the Governor with a Chair selected by the commission.
 - Members serve staggered four-year terms and may be reappointed for a total of three terms.
     - The commission appoints an executive director who serves at the pleasure of the commission and performs duties delegated by the commission.
     - Requires the casino control commission to submit an annual report to the governor, senate president, and speaker that lists relevant financial data and actions taken by the commission.

Creates the Permanent Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering made up of three members appointed by the president of the senate and three members appointed by the speaker.  The committee:

 - Reviews constitutional amendments, laws and rules governing the operation and administration of casino gaming and recommends changes.

 - Makes an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly with respect to the operation and  administration of casino gaming.

 - Studies proposed changes to the constitution, laws and rules related to casino gaming and reports to the General Assembly on their adequacy.

Outlines license application, background check, and licensing procedures for casino operators, management and holding companies, employees and vendors.

Outlines suspension, revocation and renewal procedures for operator, management and holding company, employee and vendor licenses

 - A license shall be renewed for up to three years if a licensee is in compliance with applicable statutes and rules.

 - The Commission may suspend, revoke or refuse to issue or renew a license after notice and a Chapter 119 adjudication.

Establishes fees.

 - Upfront casino operator fee is $50 million per facility.

 - New operator, management company, holding company, gaming-related vendor, and employee license and renewal fees are set by commission rule, subject to the approval of the joint committee on gaming and wagering.

 - Operator, management company, and holding company application fees are set at $2 million per application.

Provides for investigations and inspections.

 - Creates gaming agents that are specially trained peace officers employed by the commission to assist  in carrying out commission duties and to conduct investigations.

 - As it relates to state funds or public officials, specifies that the Inspector General may investigate wrongful acts or omissions committed by the commission, its employees, or entities regulated or licensed by the commission, or persons doing business with the state for casino-related matters.

 - Allows the commission to inspect and examine casino facilities, inspect supplies and equipment, impound and seize equipment for examination, audit former gaming operations, investigated suspected violations of casino gaming laws.

Implements casino regulations, including:

 - Prohibits a person under 21 from entering a casino facility unless the person is an employee who is between 18 and 21 and whose duties are not gaming-related.

 - Requires casinos to use a cashless wagering system

 - Minimum and maximum wagers shall be determined by casino operators subject to approval of the commission.   

Imposes criminal penalties for violations of casino gaming statutes.

 Regarding two new liquor permits.

 - Permit D5-n may be issued to a casino operator or management company.  One permit may be issued per facility, and not more than four may be issued in Ohio.  The fee for this permit is  $25,000.

o        Hours of serving liquor are the same as under current law. There is no allowance for complimentary beverages.

 - Permit D5-o may be issued to a restaurant located within a casino facility.  There is no limit on the number of D-5o permits that may be issued.  The fee for this permit is $2,344. 


Contact Info: Maggie Ostrowski
Communications Director
Senate Majority Caucus
 
Rm. 205 Statehouse
Columbus, Ohio 43215
 
(614) 995-1280
fax: (614) 644-5208

Issue 5: The Grandview Heights Library on the May ballot
Date Posted: 04/21/2010

Background Info: On Tuesday, May 4, the Grandview Heights Public Library will have a 2.2 mill replacement levy on the ballot - Issue 5.

According to the Help! Grandview Library Web site, passing the issue would help to:

 - Avoid further reductions in hours
 - Avoid further reductions in staff due to further reduced hours
 - Avoid further reductions in services due to reduced staff
 - Avoid purchasing fewer new books, movies, CDs, audiobooks, ebooks & eaudio
 - Avoid dramatic reductions in programs, such as Music on the Lawn concerts
 - Replace outdated computer equipment
 - Make necessary building repairs
 - Possibly add Sunday hours in the summer

Without passage of the replacement levy, the Library will be forced to:

 - Further reduce hours, probably closing Sundays the entire year
 - Further reduce staff due to further reduced hours
 - Further reduce services due to reduced staff
 - Purchase fewer books, movies, CDs and other items
 - Dramatically reduce programs, such as Music on the Lawn concerts
 - Delay purchase of updated computers
 - Delay building repairs



Contact Info: Michael & Susan Allardyce at:
omalley@rrohio.com, 614-486-0400

Grandview Library Levy Committee
1685 West First Avenue
Columbus OH  43212


For Library Information, contact Director Mary Ludlum at: mludum@ghpl.org, 614-486-2954


 - Help! Grandview Library

Legalizing Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes
Date Posted: 04/19/2010

Background Info: Democratic State Rep. Kenny Yuko introduced House Bill 478 on April 7, 2010, calling for the legalization of using marijuana for medicinal purposes in Ohio.

 - View the full legislation: Click  here

Contact Info: Democratic State Rep. Kenny Yuko
District:  7
Term: 3rd
Term Limit: Eligible to run for another two-year term
Address:
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-8012
Fax: (614) 719-0007
Email: district07@ohr.state.oh.us

Ohio House of Representatives: Kenny Yuko
Kenny Yuko Official Web site

H.R.627 - Credit CARD Act of 2009
Date Posted: 04/15/09

Background Info: Broadly, this bill seeks to establish transparency between all actorsparticipating in the consumer credit market. More specifically, itseeks to restrict unfair interest rate hikes, fees and penalties. Italso bans credit card companies from knowingly issuing cards to peopleunder the age of 18. Furthermore, it calls for the broad disseminationof information by creditors to the public regarding changes anddevelopments in credit card accounts, methods of contact, and creditcounseling services, and by the Federal Reserve Board to Congress andthe public, alike, regarding the general health of the consumer creditmarket.

Contact Info: Rep. Carolyn Maloney Democrat    14th District, New York
2332 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3214
202.225.7944 phone
202.225.4709 fax

How to Contact Your Ohio Representatives
Date Posted: 03/30/10

Background Info: Click on the following links to find contact information about each Ohio state representative.

Contact Info: The contact information includes: mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number and fax number.

- District 1 - 9
- District 10 - 19
- District 21 - 30
- District 31 - 39
- District 40 - 49
- District 50 - 59
- District 60 - 69
- District 70 - 79
- District 80 - 89
- District 90 - 99

HB 415: Statewide Ban on Texting While Driving
Date Posted: 03/30/10

Background Info:  - Prohibits driving a vehicle while using an electronic communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication.

 - Establishes certain exemptions to the prohibition, including a person using an electronic communications device for emergency purposes and a person driving a public safety vehicle who uses such a device in the course of the person's duties.

 - Provides that for the first six months after the effective date of the bill no ticket, citation, or summons may be issued for a violation of the new prohibition established by the bill, only a warning that provides information about the prohibition.

Contact Info: Michael DeBose, Representative
State Representative (D)
-
District:  12
Term: 5th (includes appointed and elected terms)
Term Limit: Not eligible to run for another two-year term
Address:
77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-1408
Fax: (614) 719-3912
Email: district12@ohr.state.oh.us


Nancy Garland, Representative
State Representative (D)
-
District:  20
Term: 1st
Term Limit: Eligible to run for another two-year term
Address:
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6002
Fax: (614) 719-6959
Email: district20@ohr.state.oh.us


Read the Bill: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_415

How to Contact Your Ohio Senators
Date Posted: 03/30/10

Background Info: Click on the following links to find contact information about each Ohio state senator.


Contact Info: Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH)    
713 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2315
Web Form: http://brown.senate.gov/contact/

Voinovich, George V. - (R - OH)    
524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3353
Web Form: http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm