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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > February > 08
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sen. Beagle introduces comp time bill; companion to Martin bill in House
State Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, on Tuesday introduced Senate Bill 62, legislation to permit private employers to award compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay to employees, subject to mutual agreement.
It is the companion bill to House Bill 61, already introduced by Rep. Jarrod Martin, R-Beavercreek.
“It appealed to me,” said Beagle. “…It just seemed like an attractive option. I know plenty of people in my working days who would gladly take some time off if they could…”
Labor leaders have opposed the bill, saying it would lead to abuse by management but Beagle said safeguards would be built in to prevent that.
The bill would apply mainly to small “mom and pop” type small businesses, Martin said. Most larger businesses would be exempt because of federal and state wage and hour laws, Martin said.
Sen. Brown calls for extending help to workers hurt by trade
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, on Tuesday renewed his call for a long-term extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance, the program that provides retraining, unemployment benefits and other help to workers who have lost their jobs due to foreign trade.
The program expires on Saturday, Brown said. In Ohio, an estimated 32,389 workers have been certified for TAFF assistance from May 2009 to Jan. 31, 2011, second only to the 46,800 certified in Michigan.
“If Congress fails to step in, the TAA program in its entirety will expire on Saturday,” Brown said in a press release.
“I’ve seen first hand how TAA can help Ohioans get back on their feet, which is why I am urging Congress to pass a long-term extension of this vital program this week.”
The 18-month extension called for by Brown would cost $1 billion, covered by customs user fees, Brown’s office said.
An earlier study by Policy Matters Ohio, a Cleveland-based research organization, found that from May 18, 2009 to May 17, 2010, Ohio had 208 groups of workers certified for TAA, covering an estimated 26,427 workers, including 2,512 in the Dayton area.
Sen. Lehner’s committee hears “calamity days” bill
The Senate Education committee, chaired by Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, on Tuesday gave a first hearing to Senate Bill 18, legislation to allow for five, not three, “calamity days” for Ohio schools in the 2010-2011 school year.
Companion legislation is pending in the House and Lehner said the goal is to get a bill to Gov. John Kasich to sign in March. Rob Nichols, Kasich’s spokesman, said the governor wants the bill “sooner rather than later.”
Having just three “calamity days” is “unrealistic in light of Ohio’s challenging winter weather,” Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, the bill’s sponsor, said as snow fell outside the Statehouse.
Ohio law permits districts to cancel school for “calamity days” because of hazardous weather, disease or other problems.
The number of days was reduced to three this school year in the budget passed under former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland who said he wanted to increase instruction time.
Grendell’s bill also would permit school districts to increase the length of school days in 30-minute increments to make up for lost time for three additional days, beyond the five “calamity days.”
It also would permit schools that have school days longer than the state minimum to use the extra time toward makeup days.
Gov. Kasich names Sommers to head “21st Century” education office
Gov. John Kasich on Monday named Robert Sommers as director of the Governor’s Office of 21st Century Education.
Sommers comes to the job with more than 25 years of experience in education, a press release said. His salary is $110,000 annually, said Rob Nichols, Kasich’s spokesman.
As chief executive officers of Butler Tech in Hamilton he “helped propel the school from the 41st-ranked career center in the state in overall performance to the first,” the release said.
More recently, Sommers, was chief executive officer of Cornerstone Charter Schools in Detroit, said the release. He has a Ph.D. in research and leadership from the Ohio State University, the release said.
Sommers’ job is separate from that of state school Superintendent Deborah Delisle, who works for the 19-member state board of education. John Stanford had a similar job for former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland as Strickland’s executive assistant for education.
Auditor Yost to have auditor’s office audited
New state Auditor Dave Yost campaigned on a pledge to be an “independent guardian of the public interest” and Yost said Monday that he’s trying to follow through on that pledge.
In a press release, Republican Yost announced that he’s requesting proposals for a performance audit of the auditor’s office, to focus on business operations and finances to make sure the office makes the best use of resources and the best practices.
Yost has announced his support for two proposals, House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 4, that would require performance audits of certain state agencies every two years. He has said they will “skinny down” government and the audit of his own office is seen as an example.
“People are tired of government telling them to do what it’s not willing to do itself,” Yost said in the press release.
“It’s time to turn the table and lead by example.”
Proposals are due in Yost’s office by March 7 and the results are due 120 calendar days from the date of the contract award, the release said.
