Wheelchair effort rolled into bill
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday December 4, 2012 6:24 AM
A bill aimed at the licensing of chemical-dependency counselors passed the Ohio House unanimously last week, but not before Republicans added an amendment that could benefit nursing homes and wheelchair providers to the tune of $20 million a year.
But it appears that the proposal will stall — at least this year.
A spokeswoman for Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, said the Senate will not go along with the House amendment. “The (Kasich) administration has indicated that they are not in support of this amendment and would like to take it up in the budget bill next General Assembly, and Sen. Niehaus agrees,” said spokeswoman Angela Meleca.
Rob Nichols, spokesman for Kasich, declined to comment on whether the governor would sign the bill as is or whether he wants to see the wheelchair legislation added to his new two-year budget, which will be rolled out in early February.
Gongwer 12/3/12
House Action: Although Tuesday's session is expected to be on the light side, the House could take up as early as Wednesday a floor vote on sweepstakes legislation (HB 605
Rep. Matt Huffman's (R-Lima) bill to essentially regulate sweepstakes parlors to the point that they cannot operate is up for hearings both Tuesday and Wednesday with possible amendments, substitute and vote slated for the latter day.
The action follows an abrupt halt to alternative legislation (HB195) that would have less stringently regulated the Internet cafes. The House State Government & Elections Committee opted not to vote out the bill after veterans groups said it would impact machines used for charitable gaming. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, November 29, 2012)
Other bills that will likely surface on Tuesday's calendar would revise the laws governing the practice of psychology (HB 496 ), modify counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist licensing law (HB 567 ) and increase the minimum amounts required for valid proof of financial responsibility (HB 278 ).
Also pending before the lower chamber is a concurrence vote on a measure to create a collaborative legal process designed to allow separating couples avoid divisive divorce proceedings (HB 461 ).
With next week expected to be the last days of session before the chamber adjourns for the year, the calendar could get quite heavy. The House will also likely start this week the farewell speeches and recognition for the about one dozen members who will leave their positions at year's end.
Although noncommittal on any particular legislation going forward, House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said last week "there are a number that are still possibilities," including a bill (HB 606 ) to abolish a judgeship of the Youngstown Municipal Court. The measure is set for a possible vote Tuesday in the House Judiciary & Ethics Committee.
Among bills scheduled for committee votes that could see full enactment this month are measures to: provide a person is not criminally or civilly liable for trespassing on certain abandoned land if he or she enters to beautify it (SB 109 ); and establish conditions for the operation of certain specialized motor vehicles and other changes to motor vehicle law (SB 114 ).
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