May 18

Senate backs land-grant status for Central State

Ohio House could consider the issue next week.

By Meagan Pant, Staff Writer 9:35 PM Thursday, May 17, 2012

Dayton Daily News

WILBERFORCE — The Ohio Senate unanimously backed an effort to designate Central State University as the state’s second land grant institution, which would give the school access to millions of dollars in federal funding.

The Ohio House of Representatives will now consider the issue — possibly by next week — after Ohio’s senators voted 33-0 Wednesday in favor of granting CSU status under the Morrill Act of 1890, according to state Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, who co-sponsored the resolution.

Senators said the vote is “righting a wrong” done in 1892, when Ohio’s legislature was free to designate CSU as its second land grant institution, but instead gave the support to Ohio State University because the state did not segregate students.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/senate-backs-land-grant-status-for-central-state-1377423.html

Education MBR Slated To Move Next Week, Although Differences With Senate Remain

With the House sticking with plans to depart for summer recess next week, lawmakers have a constricted schedule to work out differences of opinion over the education components of Gov. John Kasich's mid-biennium review.

House Education Chairman Rep. Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster) said in an interview Thursday that he planned to slate the bill (SB 316 ) for a committee vote Tuesday with a floor vote planned for later in the week.

While Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said next week would be it for the spring session, Rep. Stebelton raised the specter of the chamber's work continuing for a few days as a result of the education MBR.

"We're not going to be able to avoid a conference committee," he said, noting the House has as-needed session days available the week after Memorial Day. "Whether we can get it done before that I don't realistically see that happening.

"If we can't get it done the last week of May, I would expect that we would get called back... in early June."

Batchelder spokesman Mike Dittoe, however, said later in the day that the speaker plans to stick with his previously announced recess plans. Both chambers have set Sessions Tuesday-Thursday of next week.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=810960203