Maddy summaryHB 560 establishes strict requirements for contracts between sponsors and community schools, ensuring these institutions operate as nonsectarian entities with clear academic goals and performance standards. The bill mandates that contracts include detailed provisions for student attendance, financial audits, facility costs, and teacher qualifications, while also requiring schools to maintain racial and ethnic balance reflective of their communities. Additionally, the legislation sets specific rules for how community schools must award high school credits and report their activities to sponsors and parents. These measures aim to standardize the governance and accountability of community schools without altering the core mission of implicit bias training mentioned in the bill's title.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Ohio Revised Code sections to establish a formal appeals process for individuals facing decisions regarding family services programs, such as the Ohio pregnancy and parenting program. It clarifies which entities are considered "agencies" and defines "family services programs" to include various state-assisted initiatives. Under the new rules, individuals who disagree with program decisions can request a state hearing, which will be recorded but not transcribed unless ordered by a court. If dissatisfied with the hearing outcome, appellants may request an administrative review by the director of job and family services without needing another hearing. The bill also authorizes the department to adopt specific rules governing these hearings, setting time limits for agency compliance and outlining potential sanctions for non-compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new funding system for school bus transportation by defining specific metrics for student ridership and district density. It requires school districts to report their transportation data to the state department of education, which will then calculate statewide averages to determine a base payment for each district. The legislation creates a tiered funding formula that accounts for the number of students transported, the distance traveled, and the efficiency of bus usage relative to district size. Additionally, the bill sets a target number of students per bus for each district based on statewide median data adjusted for local density.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to support minority Ohio students who are currently in college and planning to attend law school. The state will provide funding to the Ohio State Bar Association to award $4,000 scholarships annually to an initial group of ten to twenty eligible students. In addition to financial aid, the program will offer test preparation materials, academic support, and mentoring events to help participants prepare for law school admission. The Ohio State Bar Association is responsible for setting the selection criteria and managing the program, while the state requires a detailed report on the pilot's outcomes and finances by January of the following year.
Maddy summaryHB 563, known as the Future Educators Support Act, introduces three main changes to support school staff and future teachers in Ohio. First, it requires school districts to conduct annual surveys to track staffing shortages, including vacancies and the use of substitutes or alternative licenses, with results published online. Second, the bill allows student teachers to receive a cost-of-living stipend or test fee waivers while completing their required teaching placements. Finally, it mandates that teaching be classified as an in-demand job and permits districts to pay student teachers a wage rate comparable to that of regular teachers or offer them health benefits. These provisions aim to improve data on educator staffing and provide financial support to individuals entering the teaching profession.
Maddy summaryHB 574 allows public school employees in Ohio to use their accrued sick leave to take time off for parental leave, which includes caring for a newly born, stillborn, or newly adopted child. The bill specifically applies to teachers and regular non-teaching staff, while excluding substitutes, part-time instructors, and seasonal workers. To qualify for this leave, an employee must provide a written statement from their employer justifying the absence, and the sick leave is deducted one hour for every hour of absence taken. Additionally, the legislation ensures that unused sick leave is preserved if an employee leaves and returns to public service within ten years.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires professional sporting stadiums with a seating capacity of ten thousand or more to use a playing surface made of at least ninety percent natural grass. It directly affects facilities hosting National Football League, Major League Baseball, and Major League Soccer events by mandating that these fields be maintained at industry-standard levels for high performance. The legislation defines a professional athlete and specifies the types of stadiums covered to ensure compliance with these new surface requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 595, titled the Universal Preschool Act, directs the state Department of Education and Workforce to conduct surveys and hold meetings with school districts and education organizations to assess the feasibility of implementing universal preschool and all-day kindergarten programs. The bill requires the department to compile findings into a report detailing implementation challenges and estimated costs, which must be shared with legislative committees and state officials by March. While the legislation outlines a framework for these new programs, it does not currently appropriate specific funding, instead proposing a potential one-time grant if the legislature decides to provide it. Additionally, the bill allows school districts to request waivers from the new requirements through a public hearing process, with the state Board of Education having the final authority to approve or deny such requests. To help offset the costs associated with these initiatives and sports gaming enforcement, the act also increases the sports gaming tax rate for certain operators.
Maddy summaryHB 589 prohibits the state of Ohio from executing death sentences by administering nitrogen gas. The bill mandates that executions must be carried out using lethal injections, which involve administering a specific drug or combination of drugs to cause death. If lethal injection is later ruled unconstitutional, the law allows for alternative execution methods as long as they do not involve nitrogen gas. This legislation directly affects the procedures used by the state correctional system to carry out capital punishment.