Page 16 - InCommand Volume 31

Strongsville) BWC version of the bill, OFCA requested that the state establish a PTSD Hotline for first responders to utilize if they were struggling with PTSD. Our organization is making that same request of the version introduced by Reps. Antani and Lang.
As the end of the fireworks wholesale license moratorium approaches at the end of the year, our state finds itself in the position of again deciding its path forward on fireworks. This has been a policy discussion within the state legislature, as well as OFCA, for years. However, as an organization we are in the process re-evaluating our members’ position on this policy and gauging the palatability for the various paths forward that Ohio might take.
OFCA held a Fireworks Webinar to discuss the legislative proposals at length in June, and following the webinar a survey was emailed to the entire membership giving them an opportunity to weigh in. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to review, discuss and provide feedback on the future of fireworks policy in Ohio. Your input is valuable to us and will help our organization to develop a position that is most representative of our membership.
Prior to breaking for summer, the legislature acted on a number of bills, including one that will be a win for departments that are collaborating with community partners to battle the opioid epidemic. Under an amendment added to House Bill 341, communities will be able to establish Naloxone access points in public areas similar to how AEDs are made available. The language also allows the drug to be offered in a vending machine. Fire departments, or TDDD license holders, would be responsible for ensuring that drug is stored appropriately and adheres to the medication expiration date.
OFCA also provided proponent testimony on Senate Bill 59, which increases Naloxone education for pharmacists. Added to the bill were provisions that would allow the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to create rules that would authorize a licensed distributor of dangerous drugs, that is not a pharmacy, to make occasional sales of prescription drugs to another licensed distributor of a dangerous drug.
Essentially, this would provide smaller EMS agencies with the ability to purchase medications from a larger neighboring entity should they run out of the drug.
This will help smaller departments who do not have adequate access to the drug
to be able to more easily obtain the medication, and it would also give larger departments so financial relief that comes with stocking expensive medication.
In this time of continued COVID-19 response, legislative monitoring is more important than ever. We will continue to remain active at the Statehouse on both pandemic legislation and other topics relevant to the fire service. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the OFCA Legislative Page on our website to learn more about current legislation and other helpful information pertaining to the Ohio General Assembly.
16 InCommand JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org