Page 20 - In Command Volume 18 - Ohio Fire Chiefs Association

Legislative Update - State
Thank you to
all the members who actively participated in reaching out to their legislators during a busy General Assembly.
Wrap Up of the 131st General Assembly:
The 131st General Assembly was very active for the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association. OFCA was actively engaged in a multitude of important legislation including the passage of Senate Bill 185 and Senate Bill 27.
House Bill 185, Arson-Property Ownership, Representative Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) - Effective March 21, 2017: House Bill 185 eliminates the lack
of property owner’s consent as an element of arson when the property is abandoned real property and to make the consent of the owner of abandoned real property an affirmative defense. We appreciate Chief Jeffrey Payne, Chief Nick Heimlich, Chief Kevin O’Connor and Chief Todd Owens testifying before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Senate Bill 27, Workers’ Compensation-Firefighter Cancer, Senator Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) – Effective April 6, 2017: Senate Bill 27 provides that a firefighter who is disabled as a result of specified types of cancer is presumed to have incurred the cancer from performing official duties as a firefighter. The legislation will also ensure that Ohio has a mechanism in place to help firefighters who have been diagnosed and can no longer work. Thank you to OFCA President Jeff Klein for testifying before the House Insurance Committee Members on this bill. We know many members have questions about how this bill will be implemented. We are working with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and will share details as they become available.
132nd General Assembly:
The 132nd General Assembly welcomes 22 new legislators with 18 joining the Ohio House of Representatives and 4 joining the Ohio Senate. We encourage everyone to meet the 22 new members who joined the Ohio General Assembly. It is a great time to establish relationships by introducing yourselves and educating the members on issues that pertain to your district or the association.
House Bill 49, Biennial Budget Bill, Representative Ryan Smith (R-Gallipolis) – Introduced on February 8, 2017, the Ohio General Assembly has until June 30, 2017 to finalize the state biennial budget bill to present to Governor John Kasich. OFCA will be sending out updates in the coming months in an effort to keep members informed on provisions that impact the fire service in Ohio.
We would like to thank all of the members who actively participated in reaching
out to their legislators on the various issues we worked on during the past General Assembly. We sent out numerous calls to action and appreciate your support and the quick manner in which you reached out and educated your state Senators and state Representatives.
For additional information regarding legislative issues we worked on during the 131st General Assembly, or any other bills 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, Jonathan Westendorf, jwestendorf@franklinohio.org, or Legislative Counsel, Michelle Fitzgibbon, michelle@fitzgibbongroup.com. u
20 InCommand APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2017 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org