A Legislative Update: A Guest Column by Representative Scott Oelslager - July 20, 2020
The House was successful in passing several pieces of legislation in the last few weeks, including measures to help Ohio recover and reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic and to expand telemedicine access.
My colleagues in the Ohio House and I work hard to improve the lives of the Ohioans we represent, and I appreciate the opportunity to update you on these and other issues before us in the Legislature.
Revising the Sale and Delivery of Alcoholic Beverages: House Bill 669 codifies a temporary rule issued by the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. The bill would legalize carryout drink purchases and third-party alcohol deliveries. This will assist the hospitality sector that has been hit hard by the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recovering and Reopening Ohio: House Bill 673 addresses a number of items to help Ohio recover and reopen from the COIVD-19 pandemic. First, it addresses nurse licensures, with the goal of speeding up the pipeline between soon-to-be college graduates and the workplace. Additionally, the bill would allow pharmacists to administer any future COVID-19 vaccine to individuals seven and older, and would allow pharmacists to test for COVID-19 and for antibodies. House Bill 673 also codifies guidance issued by the Department of Education to schools indicating that they should be flexible during the 2020-2021 academic year regarding the number of hours or weeks of field experience that a student must complete in order to be eligible for an education license or endorsement. Finally, House Bill 673 eliminates the temporary event salon license, allowing cosmetologists and barbers to provide services at homes, health care facilities, and hospitals without having to file burdensome paperwork or paying a fee. This will increase the access to those at home who are at-risk and do not wish to travel or go out. House Bill 673 passed out of the House unanimously.
Screening and Interventions for Children with Dyslexia: House Bill 436 creates the Ohio Dyslexia Committee, which would assist the Department of Education in screening, intervention and remediation efforts for children with dyslexia or displaying dyslexic characteristics and tendencies. Under the legislation, the Department of Education would provide structured literacy program professional development for teachers in dyslexia screening and intervention practices.
Transparency in COVID-19 Testing Data: House Bill 624 seeks to require specific COVID-19 testing data from the Department of Health. The agency would be required to report numbers of confirmed cases not requiring medical care, patients treated and released, those who tested negative and infection rates for congregate settings. This information simplifies the reporting so residents can make their own informed decisions.
Modernizing Athletic Training Law: House Bill 484 would modernize the definition of athletic training to better reflect the training and education received by athletic trainers. It would require an athletic trainer to practice under a collaboration agreement with a physician or podiatrist and eliminate the requirement that a trainer be employed by an educational institution, a professional or amateur organization, or an athletic or health care facility.
Expanding Telemedicine: Telehealth has seen a huge growth due to COVID-19, and it’s important that Ohio’s laws keep up. House Bill 679 expands telemedicine service laws to psychologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, and more. This will make providers more accessible to patients, and will cut down on the disruption to daily life that often comes with medical appointments. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for quick access to quality care. House Bill 679 would give Ohioans greater access to healthcare by allowing both patients and providers to take full advantage of modern technology.
The Fair Water and Sewer Rates Act: House Bill 163 creates a process to withhold local government funds and water and sewer assistance from municipal corporations in circumstances where municipal corporations charge suburban residents vastly excessive sums for water or sewer service that are not based on any recognized difference in the cost of serving those residents. This would alleviate an unbalanced balance of power between cities and serving neighboring areas.
In everything I do, whether it is in Columbus or back in my home district of Stark County, I will continue to make your priorities my priorities. With that goal in mind, I welcome your feedback and opinions at any time. Please do not hesitate to contact me by calling (614) 752-2438, emailing Rep48@OhioHouse.gov, or by writing me at 77 South High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.