Please note the item on OPERS below as well as the rest of the legislative 
information from Heidi.

Christine Matacic


BUDGET BILL
The Senate is expected to release a substitute version of the budget
bill (HB 1) by the end of this week.  The OTA did give testimony on the
bill before the Senate Finance & Financial Institution Committee last
week and submitted two amendments, via Senator Schuler, for
consideration of inclusion in the Senate substitute version.  The
amendments we submitted would: (1) eliminate the collective bargaining
language for full-time, paid township fire departments in townships with
a population under 5,000 in the unincorporated territory; and (2) state
that any township that is offering health care or reimbursing for health
care expenses would not be required to offer a section 125 (IRS)
cafeteria plan for health care.  Rumor around the Statehouse is that the
TPP reimbursement language may not be included in the Senate version of
the budget bill, due to the $11.2 million price tag and the financial
crisis that the state is facing.  Rumors are just that, rumors, and we
will let you know what is included or not included in the budget as soon
as possible once the Senate version is released.


INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
HB 194  HOUSEHOLD SEWAGE  (Dolan)   Regarding the operation of certain
provisions of the Household and Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment
Systems Law and that enacted temporary provisions regarding that Law by
extending the termination of the suspension and temporary law from July
1, 2009, to December 31, 2009, and to declare an emergency. Am. 120.01,
120.02, and 120.05
This bill was introduced to extend the current rules past the current
deadline of July 1, 2009.  This will give the general assembly six more
months to pass alternative HSTS rules and regulations.


OPERS
At the OPERS Board meeting last Wednesday, the Board authorized the
legislative director at OPERS to pursue legislation that would increase
the monthly contribution from $250 to $1000. The Ohio Township
Association recognizes this would impact nearly all township trustees
and several hundred fiscal officers.  We will be meeting with OPERS
shortly to discuss this matter and other potential OPERS changes that
will impact township officials and employees.  If you have concerns with
this proposal, please share your thoughts with us and we will be happy
to pass along your comments to OPERS.


FORCE ACCOUNTS
The OTA met with the Ohio Contractors Association, the County Engineers
Association, the Ohio Farm Bureau and Senators Gillmor and Buehrer this
week to discuss possible changes to the force account law.  The Ohio
County Engineers Association has proposed a 70% increase in the force
account limits due to inflation over the last six years and a 3% price
indexing every year thereafter.  The OTA supports this request.  The
Contractors Association has come back with an alternative proposal which
is still be evaluating.  All parties will be reconvening in a few weeks
to further discuss the issue.


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


NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission is for the use of the named
individual or entity to which it is directed and may contain information
that is privileged or confidential. It is not to be transmitted to or
received by anyone other than the named addressee (or a person
authorized to deliver it to the named addressee). It is not to be copied
or forwarded to any unauthorized persons. If you have received this
electronic mail transmission in error, delete it from your system
without copying or forwarding it, and notify the sender of the error by
replying via e-mail or by calling the Ohio Township Association at (614)
863-0045 so that our address record can be corrected.