Legislative Update - July 2020

As the Ohio General Assembly continues their summer recess and begins to hit the campaign trail for the November election, below are a few items that the CEA legislative team has worked on for our members. Please email or call CEA with any questions or for more information.

Immunity Protection For Businesses During The Covid Pandemic Nears Final Review

HB 606 passed both chambers and now awaits a review by the Ohio House regarding Senate amendments.  The bill provides immunity protection for business in Ohio due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This bill’s end date would be December 31, 2020.

Unemployment Compensation Bonding Passes The Ohio Senate

SJR 4 allows the General Assembly to provide for the issuance of obligations to repay outstanding advances made by the federal government to the unemployment compensation program of the state. The joint resolution passed the Ohio Senate unanimously in June. SJR 4 does not deal with structural changes to the unemployment system.  CEA’s lobbying team continues to attend hearings and work with interested parties just in case structural changes are discussed. If passed by the legislature, this resolution will be on the November 3, 200 ballot for a vote of the general public.

House Passes Legislation To Review Administration Of Ohio’s Unemployment Compensation 

The bill passed the Ohio House unanimously and now resides in the Ohio Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee. HB 614 was introduced because the sponsors were concerned about how the unemployment compensation system reacted in response to COVID-19.  The bill creates a task force to study administrative changes and reviews of the system. It provides easier contact points for claimants and some standardization within the system.  HB 614 will not look at solvency.  Reports will be issued by a committee and the State Auditor on how ODJFS has run the system.                                                  

Cuyahoga County Council Passes A Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis And Works On Equity Committee Legislation

The public health resolution will among other things provide recommendations to the 2012 Equity Plan for Cuyahoga County to include social reform that will engage County employees at all levels of government, community partners, and populations who obtain services through the County in the following core areas: healthcare, the criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable housing, well paying jobs and business ownership opportunities, quality transportation, educational opportunities, and safe places to be active.  The process will look at County contracting among other things.

The County also introduced legislation on the County Executive’s appointment of various individuals to serve on the Cuyahoga County Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity for the term 7/15/2020 - 7/14/2025.  The legislation was referred to the Human Resources and Appointments Committee.  This committee will review matters listed above.
 

Half A Billion Dollars Allocated For Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and Public Works

The bill was delivered to the Governor. The bill appropriates $300 million in new capital funds to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to support school facilities construction and renovation projects.  It appropriates $255 million in new capital funds to the Public Works Commission (PWC) for the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) and the greenspace component of the Clean Ohio Conservation Program (COCP). The bill also authorizes the issuance of bonds for SCIP and COCP totaling $225 million.  CEA along with other industry partners weighed in with Senate leadership to respectfully pass this funding quickly and continue moving projects forward.

Billions For Building Projects and Local CARES Funding Placed In Land Conveyance Bill

HB 481 started out as a bill to authorize the conveyance of state-owned real property.  It became a vehicle for billions in capital bill funding and CARES Act funding. The Governor signed the bill on June 19th.  Funding in the bill appropriates $350 million in federal CARES Act funding to local governments to help offset losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, and more importantly for the construction industry to provide $1.28 billion in Capital ReAppropriations which entities around the state will use for building projects, maintenance, and renovations.