> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Legislative Alert & Update
> From:    "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:    Fri, December 11, 2009 6:20 pm
> To:
> Cc:      "Michael Cochran" <[log in to unmask]>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Township Officials:
>
> The General Assembly was quite busy this week.  Please find below along
> with other issues, some pertinent information about several bills moving
> through the legislative process.
>
> Legislation
> HB 271 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING/TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENTS
> Bill passed the House mostly along party lines by a vote of 54-42 with 3
> people not voting.  Attached is the roll call vote for the bill. (House
> Roll Call Vote)  The bill now goes to the Ohio Senate for committee
> hearings.  Once the bill is assigned to a Committee, we will let you
> know.  As you know, the OTA is opposed to this bill.
>
> HB 344  WATER/SEWAGE FEES (Goyal, Harris, M.) To limit recovery of
> rate-case expenses for certain water-works and sewage disposal system
> companies.
>
> This bill had sponsor testimony this week in the House Public Utilities
> Committee.  The bill was introduced to protect consumers in certain
> areas from upwards of a 70% increase in water rates over a 4 year period
> of time.
>
>
> HB 363 ANIMAL FEEDING FACILITIES  (Okey, Newcomb)
> This bill was voted out of the Senate and now goes back to the House for
> concurrence of Senate changes.  It is important to note that language
> was added to this bill to extend the moratorium on HSTS rules through
> July 1, 2010.  Current moratorium expires January 1, 2010.  The OTA is
> still working with all interested parties to put new workable HSTS rules
> in place and this bill provides more time to do this.
>
> SB 124 REAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS (Faber, Schiavoni)
> This bill, as introduced and as passed by the Senate, did not have
> anything in it that pertained to townships.  However, the House Civil &
> Commercial Law Committee amended SB 124 to include language that will
> impact all local governments financially.  The amendment to the bill
> created the Tax Appeals Administration Fund in the State Treasury by
> earmarking for the Board of Tax Appeals a portion of the state
> reimbursement to local taxing units for the 10% real property tax
> rollback.  What this means is that townships will receive less money.
> The amount in many cases is very small but the OTA objects to this
> language being included without any of the local governments input on
> the matter. (BTA Fee by Subdivision attachment)
>
> Furthermore, the legislature reduced the funding for the Tax Appeals
> Board in HB 1(budget bill) and now is asking local governments to pay
> for the administration and operations of the Board.  If this continues,
> what else will local governments be asked to pay for due to state budget
> cuts.  Local governments, such as townships, are hurting financially
> just like the state and pushing the costs of things, like the Tax
> Appeals Board, on to local governments will only increase the financial
> strain at the local level.
>
> Township officials are encouraged to call their State Representatives to
> express opposition to this provision in SB 124.  The bill will likely be
> on the House floor for a vote next week.  Should the House vote on the
> bill as is, the bill then would have to go to the Senate for concurrence
> on House changes to the Senate bill.  This means that you should also
> contact your State Senator to express opposition to this measure.
>
> SB 165 OIL/GAS WELLS
> Bill passed the Senate Committee on Wednesday morning.  The only
> amendment to the bill was language that permits local authorities to
> conduct public hearings on proposed lease agreements. Senator Grendell
> offered a variety of amendments but all were tabled or rejected.  The
> bill passed committee by a vote of 7-2 with Senators Grendell and Miller
> voting in the negative.  The bill will likely be voted on by the full
> Senate next week.
>
>
> Introduced this Week
> HB 393 ABATEMENT CONTROL (Gerberry, Blessing)  To revise the notice
> required to be provided by a board of township trustees to a landowner
> for the abatement, control, or removal of vegetation, garbage, refuse,
> or other debris from the owner's land. Am. 505.87
>
>
>
> Health Care Coverage
> HB 8 AUTISM COVERAGE (Celeste, Garland) To prohibit health insurers from
> excluding coverage for specified services for individuals diagnosed with
> an autism spectrum disorder.
>
> 57-39 (Amended)
>
> HB 81 DIABETES COVERAGE (Boyd, Gardner) To require certain health care
> policies, contracts, agreements, and plans to provide benefits for
> equipment, supplies, and medication for the diagnosis, treatment, and
> management of diabetes and for diabetes self-management education.
>
> 58-38 (Amended)
>
>
> The Ohio House passed these two bills this week and both of these bills
> will impact the cost of health insurance.  Both bills now go before the
> Ohio Senate for committee hearings.  The OTA will continue to monitor
> the bills and update you as information becomes available.
>
>
> NATaT
> Please find attached a monthly update from our national association.
> The newsletter provides pertinent information relative to townships and
> small governments.  If you have any questions about the information
> contained in the Washington Report, please contact Jennifer Imo at the
> Ferguson Group at [log in to unmask]  (Washington Report- November 2009)
>
>
> Looking for Township Input on Surveys
> LTAP
> Ohio township trustees/personnel in semi-rural and rural areas
>
> Attached below is an invitation to participate in a national survey
> relating to unpaved/gravel roads.  This survey is being conducted by
> Montana State University under sponsorship from the Federal Highway
> Administration.  If your township manages and maintains any unpaved
> roads, please consider participating in the survey using the web link
> listed below.  Also, please forward this e-mail request to any other
> townships or local agencies in your area that may have responsibility
> for unpaved roads.
>
>
>
> This survey takes approximately 20 minutes and was developed by a
> diverse team of stakeholders under the sponsorship of FHWA and the
> coordination of the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State
> University. Your participation in this anonymous survey will greatly
> assist FHWA in identifying future research and documentation needs
> pertaining to effective and sustainable use of chemical treatments on
> unpaved roads.
>
>
>
> Take the survey at www.roaddustinstitute.org
> <http://www.roaddustinstitute.org/> .  Thank you for your help and
> participation!
>
>
> MORPC - Take the Shape the Future of Central Ohio survey!
> Central Ohio Townships Only (Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin,
> Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, Ross & Union Counties)
> Shaping our Future is a plan the Mid Ohio Regional Planning is
> spearheading for 12 counties in central Ohio. Expected to be completed
> in 2012,  Shaping Our Future will integrate elements that impact the
> region including the transportation system, land use patterns, air
> quality, energy security, water quality, food production, and economic
> development.  The mission is to have a regionally accepted plan that
> ensures major public infrastructure expenditures and public development
> decisions are made with a focus on sustainability to secure a
> competitive advantage for central Ohio.
>
> The survey takes 10 minutes. There are questions about energy,
> environment, transportation, the economy and your neighborhood. Most
> importantly, it's an opportunity for you to say what you like about
> central Ohio and what you think would make it better. It's anonymous,
> it's fast, and it's important. Get involved in Shaping Our Future!  Use
> this link: http://regionalplan.questionpro.com/
>
> Urban Forestry Survey
> Urban Forestry Advisory Committee is seeking input from townships on
> what they think are issues that ODNR should address in its continuing
> efforts to improve and maintain the state's forestry program.  As many
> know, DNR's budget has been cut for many years to the point that dollars
> that went to natural areas and preserves are gone and that program no
> longer exists; insurance dollars to rebuild Zaleski State Park's lodge
> went to operating, and so on.
>
> The Committee is asking for suggestions as to how the Dept. of Natural
> Resources can meet the challenges facing this department in the future.
> Attached is list of issues the Committee has put together.  If you have
> any thoughts, concerns or suggestions, please contact Drew Todd, ODNR
> Urban Forestry Coordinator, at [log in to unmask]
>
>
> 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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>
>
>
>