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News Your source on political action, voter info & legislation House and Senate spar over budget correction/capital bill
June 3, 2008 - Ohio Senators made a slew of changes to the House version of the capital budget bill (HB 562) before wrapping up the spring general session. Not surprisingly, the changes represent a Christmas tree of provisions the Senate would like to boast to their constituents about as they begin to campaign for the fall election. OCSEA has been monitoring several proposals in the House and Senate versions of the bill: • ARSON INVESTIGATORS - OCSEA has been working with the governor’s office and legislative leaders to secure peace officer status for Arson Investigators who are OCSEA members. Arson Investigators are fully certified. Under the current Ohio Revised Code, in order to retain their certification, unlike other peace officers, they must give volunteer hours to a local law enforcement entity. The governor and House concurred that their status should change to that of peace officer. The Senate took a different approach and stripped their peace officer status for a watered-down version that would increase the penalties on assaults on Arson Investigators. OCSEA continues to seek “full” peace officer status for these members. • MR GALLIPOLIS PILOT - OCSEA was able to make a technical change in language that will allow the Gallipolis Developmental Center pilot to be fully funded. The changed language will allow for full reimbursement of direct care staff wages as well as for professional services, support staff and overhead. The Senate and House concurred on the technical change. The administration has committed to opening a total of 4 such facilities—two in Gallipolis and two in Mount Vernon—for a total of 32 beds, expanding the original GDC pilot from 10 beds to 32. • MH CLOSURES - The House and Senate passed versions enacting a six-month moratorium on the closure of any state mental health facility, including Cambridge and Dayton. The governor has indicated he would veto the provision. • ODNR FUNDING - The House version requires a legislative study be done to assess the financial conditions of state parks and recreational facilities. The Senate version took the study out. The Senate and House will hold conference committee meetings sometime during the first two weeks of June to reach an agreement. See Related
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