----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Matacic" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2010 9:50 AM
Subject: [Fwd: Ohio & Federal Legislative Update]


> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Ohio & Federal Legislative Update
> From:    "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:    Fri, December 10, 2010 4:43 pm
> To:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> LGF SURVEYS
> The December Grassroots Newsletter had a survey included regarding the
> Local Government Fund.  The OTA STRONGLY encourages each township to fill
> out the survey and return it to the State Association.  Thank you for your
> cooperation with this important effort.
>
>
> OHIO STATEHOUSE UPDATE
> House Local Government &Public Administration Committee
> Passed in Committee on Wednesday, December 8
> HB 389
>
> COUNTY BUDGETS (Huffman) To authorize counties to adopt a direct deposit
> payroll policy, and to authorize counties to increase the amount credited
> to "rainy day" reserve balance accounts to one-sixth of the expenditures
> made in the preceding fiscal year from the fund in which the reserve
> balance account is established. REPORTED (No testimony)
>
> HB 459
>
> TOWNSHIP INTEREST (Dyer) To authorize a board of township trustees to
> require that interest earned on a special fund be credited to that special
> fund, rather than to the general fund. REPORTED (No testimony)
>
>
> Testimony in Committee on December 8
> HB 471
>
> DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (Chandler) To permit townships, counties, and
> combinations of townships, counties, and municipal corporations to
> establish transfer of development rights programs. Full Text (CONTINUED;
> 3rd Hearing - All testimony - Possible amendments & vote)
>
>
> Chair Chandler said the enabling legislation would extend to counties and
> townships an option municipalities have to establish transfer of
> development rights programs, described as an overlay of their zoning
> codes.   Vincent Squillace, executive director of the Ohio Home Builders
> Association, said the organization viewed the measure as a threat to
> property owners. He said it remained opposed to the bill in its current
> form because concerns previously raised had not been addressed.  Mr.
> Squillace said it was unclear if a government could proceed with TDR
> zoning despite a landowner's wishes. "We're not comfortable with
> definitions in the bill that it's optional for the property owners," he
> said.  Rep. Chandler countered that the bill would help homebuilders.
> "It's not the government taking over personal property rights," she said.
> "Why there's opposition I have no idea."  The committee recessed briefly
> to discuss the matter, and the bill was subsequently withdrawn from a
> possible vote.
>
>
>
> FEDERAL CEMETERY BILL UPDATE - ACTION NEEDED NOW!
> URGE CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE Bereaved Consumers Rights Act (H.R. 3655)
> There could be renewed activity on the Bereaved Consumers Rights Act (H.R.
> 3655) this week.  H.R. 3655, introduced by Representative Bobby Rush
> (D-IL), would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enact a new
> trade rule requiring a variety of consumer disclosures by all cemeteries
> providing funeral goods and services.  Minor violations of these new FTC
> cemetery rules could trigger fines up to $16,000 per violation.  The FTC's
> jurisdiction is generally limited to for-profit businesses.  The
> regulation of not-for-profit organizations, including local governments,
> would stretch the FTC's mandate. Furthermore, legislation already exists
> in many states to regulate local cemeteries.
>
> The House added H.R. 3655 to its calendar yesterday, which means that the
> bill could be considered at any point.  While the Senate is not
> considering a companion version of H.R. 3655 in the lame duck session, the
> real concern is that the House could tie H.R. 3655 to a bill that the
> Senate passed last weekend requiring reports on the management of
> Arlington Cemetery (S. 3860).  S. 3860 doesn't impact local governments,
> but the House could link H.R. 3655 and S. 3860 together and dare the
> Senate to reject it.
>
> Take action!
> 1.       NATaT and the OTA oppose H.R. 3655 and encourages township
> officials to contact their US House Members and urge them to reject H.R.
> 3655.
> 2.       NATaT encourages town and township officials with House Members
> who serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee to urge them not to link H.R.
> 3655 to S. 3860.  House Veterans Affairs Committee members in the NATaT
> states include:
> Democrats -
> Rep. John Hall (NY)
> Rep. Deborah Halvorson (IL)
> Rep. Joe Donnelly (IN)
> Rep. Timothy Walz (MN)
> Rep. Zachary Space (OH)
> Republicans -
> Rep. Steve Buyer (IN), Ranking Member
>
> For more information, contact Andrew Seth at (202) 454-3922 or
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> FEDERAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UPDATE
> The cloture motion filed in the Senate failed and therefore the collective
> bargaining bill is now dead for this Congress. It will likely be
> reintroduced in January.  We will keep you posted.
>
>
>
>
>
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