> Subject: Legislative Alert - Update
> From:    "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:    Fri, October 23, 2009 4:07 pm
> To:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Township Officials:
>
> Please find below some information from the State Association.
>
> General Assembly Update
> There is really nothing moving in the General Assembly at this time.
> However, there have been several committee meetings with hearings on
> bills that have an impact on township government and several new pieces
> of legislation introduced.  You may read these bills in their entirety
> at www.legislature.state.oh.us.
>
> House Commerce & Labor Committee
> HB 271 TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENTS  (Patten, Stewart, D.)  To modify
> coverage of the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Law with respect
> to township fire departments.  (1st Hearing-Sponsor)
> Rep. Patten said the bill would give professional fire departments that
> serve at least 5,000 residents the opportunity to engage in collective
> bargaining. He said current law allows such organizing only for
> firefighters in unincorporated areas with 5,000 or more population. As a
> result, the law excludes from bargaining firefighters in departments
> that may actually serve well over 5,000 residents, but that fail to meet
> the threshold because the unincorporated area is too small.  Co-sponsor
> Rep. Stewart said he introduced similar legislation during his first
> term in 2002. He said the bill would affect about 14 township
> departments.
> The OTA has opposed this bill in the past and will continue to do so
> because of the precedent this type of legislation will set and the costs
> of collective bargaining.
>
> Passed the House
> HB 318 TAX RATE FREEZE (Sykes) To postpone for two years the last of
> five scheduled income tax rate reductions, to reduce salaries of General
> Assembly members by five percent, and to make conforming amendments.
> This bill will delay the last income tax reduction that was put into
> place in 2005.  What this means is the state will potentially collect
> roughly $840 million.  This could have an impact on the Local Government
> Fund, as this money goes into the state's general revenue fund, of which
> the LGF receives 3.68% of the state's general revenue fund.  This bill
> goes to the Senate for hearings.
>
> Introduced in the 128th General Assembly
> HB 326  ESTATE TAX (Hottinger, Grossman)   To reduce the estate tax, to
> authorize townships and municipal corporations, or electors thereof by
> initiative, to exempt from the estate tax any estate property located in
> the township or municipal corporation, and to distribute all estate tax
> revenue originating in a township or municipal corporation that does not
> exempt property from the tax to the township or municipal corporation.
>
> SB 184  PRIVATE ROAD PLOWING  (Gibbs)   To authorize townships to use
> road equipment and labor resources available to a township to plow
> certain private roads and driveways either at the expense of the
> township or for a fee charged to specified persons.
>
>
> Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution
> The Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution has embarked on a strategic
> planning process to determine how to better serve our state.  To this
> end, the Commission has developed a brief survey and would like to get
> your input.  Below is the link that will take you directly to the
> survey.  It should take about 10 minutes to complete.  The OTA thanks
> you in advance for your participation in this survey.
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FuueY2sPsD2Zp_2bt6UjyRvQ_3d_3d
>
> If the link is not active it can be pasted or typed into a browser
> window, or the survey is available on the front page of The Commission's
> Web site at www.DisputeResolution.ohio.gov
> <blocked::http://www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/>
>
>
> Issues on November Ballot
> Please find attached a document that explains the three statewide issues
> on the ballot this November.  This document provides you the ballot
> language and the arguments for and against each issue.
>
>
> Next Meeting of the Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform &
> Collaboration
> The next public hearing and meeting of the Ohio Commission on Local
> Government Reform & Collaboration will take place on Friday, October 30.
> The meeting will be held at the Engineer's Club of Dayton located at 110
> E. Monument Avenue, Dayton, Oh 45402. The public notice and parking
> options are attached.
>
>
> Bureau of Workers' Compensation
> The OTA received word from our Group Rating sponsor that based on
> proposed BWC changes, your premiums will increase.  Our group rating
> program sponsor, FrankGates, is working in partnership with other group
> rating sponsors to alter the proposed changes by BWC.  To that extent, a
> website has been organized to allow group rating members to voice their
> opinion on the proposed BWC changes, namely the Break Even Factor
> Surcharge for group rating participants.  By entering information on the
> website, a letter will be sent directly to BWC, the Governor, the Ohio
> House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.  The OTA is encouraging
> all townships to voice their opinion at
> http://www.ohioworkerscompalert.com.  If this link does not work, please
> cut and paste the link into your web browser.
>
>
> Heidi M. Fought
> Director of Governmental Affairs
> Ohio Township Association
> 6500 Taylor Road, Suite A
> Blacklick, OH 43004
> (614) 863-0045
> (614) 863-9751 Fax
>
>
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