Page 20 - Volume 19

Legislative Update - State
We want to thank all of our members who were active in assisting with our advocacy efforts during the budget process.
At the beginning of each new General Assembly, the legislators and the Governor spend the first six months working on the state biennial budget. Governor Kasich released his executive budget in February, and it was quickly turned into House Bill 49. Over the past six months, OFCA has been actively engaged in a wide range of budget issues impacting the fire service, including MARCS funding and fund- ing of the State Emergency Response Plan. We want to thank all of our members who were active in assisting with our advocacy efforts during the budget process.
Along with the budget process, we have also been active in other legislation including:
Senate Bill 103, Buckeye State Sheriffs Association’s Proposal for County EMA Services, Senator Bill Coley (R-Liberty Township): Senate Bill 103 has been referred to the Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. The legislation would allow the Board of County Commissioners of a county to enter into a contract with a county sheriff or fire chief to administer a countywide emergency management program. We are opposed to Senate Bill 103 for many reasons, including the fact that the responsibilities of an emergency management director, on top of those of a sheriff or fire chief, would be difficult to manage and could lead to a less than efficient program.
House Bill 69, Reimburse Medical Service Levy Revenue Forgone Because of TIF, Representative Robert Cupp (R-Lima): House Bill 69 requires reimbursement of township fire and emergency medical service levy revenue forgone because of the creation of a municipal tax increment financing (TIF) incentive district. The requirement will only apply if the township provides fire, emergency medical, or ambulance services in the incentive district, and only if the ordinance creat- ing the district was adopted on or after the bill’s effective date. The bill recently passed out of House State and Local Government Committee by a unanimous favorable vote.
House Bill 38, Public Safety and Military Protection Act, Representative Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake): House Bill 38 expands the offense of aggravated murder to include purposely causing the death of a first responder or military member when the victim was on duty or when the offender specifically targets a first responder or military member. The bill also increases the penalty of felonious assault against a first responder or military member to a first degree felony.
House Bill 171, Limited Work Hours for Emergency Medical Providers, Representative Bill Patmon (D-Cleveland): House Bill 171 would limit the number of hours an emergency medical service provider is able to work to no more than twelve consecutive hours and no working without a rest period of at least ten consecutive hours between shifts. Originally, the bill would have included both private and public emergency medical providers, but after working with the bill sponsor, House Bill 171 will only affect the private providers moving forward.
For additional information on the above bills or any other bills that the association is currently working on, please log into the members only section of the website and visit the legislative page, or contact the Legislative Committee Chair, Chief Jonathan Westendorf, jwestendorf@franklinohio.org, or Legislative Agent, Michelle Fitzgibbon, michelle@fitzgibbongroup.com. u
20 InCommand JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org