Legislative Updates - Ohio
Title (Sponsor) : Requirement for Employers to Verify Employees' Citizenship (Combs, R-Butler)
Common Name: eVerify
Synopsis: The bill would require all employers in Ohio, both public and private, to register and participate in E-Verify, a voluntary, federal program designed to supplement the I-9 employment verification process for all new employees. The bill would also require state agencies and political subdivisions to use a federal system to verify the citizenship and work eligibility of all new employees and would prohibit all state agencies and political subdivisions from entering into contracts for goods of services with any vendor that did not use the employee verification system. It would also require all jails to make a reasonable attempt to verify the citizenship of confined individuals and transmit alien's information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Status: In Committee (Referred to the Judiciary Committee)
Next Action/Scheduled Date: Fall/September
Bill # : HB 1
Title (Sponsor) : State of Ohio Operating Budget
Common Name: Annual State Budget
Synopsis: The state budget has educational "reforms" (throwbacks) proposed by Governor Ted Strickland. Members urge legislators to vote against this bill until Governor Strickland's "reforms" are removed.
Status: Passed by House and Senate (will be reworked by Governor's office and resubmitted to the House)
Next Action/Scheduled Date:
Bill # : HB 176
Title (Sponsor) : Equal Housing and Employment Act (Dan Stewart (D-West Columbus) and Ross MacGregor (R-Clark County))
Common Name: Equal Housing and Employment Act
Synopsis: The Ohio Civil Rights Commission would be authorized to work with the Department of Education to insure that all public school students in Ohio are taught that belief in the Biblical truth regarding homosexuality and other distorted sexual behaviors is equivalent to prejudice and thus inherently wrong. Students who have been taught by their parents that homosexual behaviors are contrary to their religious beliefs would have to remain silent or risk being punished, criticized and/or bullied. [Note: Sensitivity training of this nature does not recognize the critical difference between respect for all persons and affirmation of their beliefs and lifestyles.] Status: Move Out of Committee and May Move to the House Floor for a Vote (No Vote Currently Scheduled as of 6/17/2009)
Next Action/Scheduled Date: Nothing scheduled as of 6/10/2009