----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Matacic" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:19 AM
Subject: [Fwd: Legislative Alert - This week at the Statehouse]


> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Legislative Alert - This week at the Statehouse
> From:    "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date:    Fri, June 19, 2009 2:02 pm
> To:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Township Officials:
>
>
>
> While the news regarding the state's financial condition worsens, the
> conference committee members continue to hammer out differences between
> the House and Senate versions of House Bill 1, the biennium budget.  At
> this time, we are aware of several items that potentially may be
> addressed in the bill.  Those include: TPP reimbursements, Section 125
> cafeteria plan mandates, collective bargaining, reverse auctions and
> HSTS rule changes.  Please note that we do not have any information or
> language on these items at this time.  As soon as we get more concrete
> information we will pass it along to you.
>
> The OTA participated in several hearings this week on bills that have a
> direct impact on township government.
> HB 141 HSTS Rules (Dodd) - Hearing in House Environment & Brownfield
> Development Committee
> This is the companion to SB 110 (Niehaus), which revises the Household
> Sewage and Small Flow On-Site Sewage Treatment Systems Law.  The OTA
> testified in support of HB 141 and our support letter is attached.
> Additionally, the Ohio Municipal League came out in opposition to the
> provision in HB 141 and SB 110 that would prohibit forced annexation
> should a property owner be ordered to tap into a central sewer for
> health reasons.  The OTA response letter is also attached.
> HB 218 Utility Taxes (Winburn) - Hearing in House Ways & Means Committee
> This bill modifies the tax valuation of public utility tangible personal
> property used to generate electricity from renewable energy sources,
> specifically wind and solar.  Basically, solar and wind energy would pay
> less in local taxes than traditional utilities.  The OTA joined with
> four other organizations to share concerns of HB 218, specifically the
> loss of potential revenue should wind and solar companies locate in a
> township.  The wind companies are requesting to pay approximately $5,000
> to $8,000 per megawatt but should state law as currently written apply,
> those same companies would pay on average (as each locality would have a
> different rate) $40,000 per megawatt.  Please note that the money paid
> per megawatt would be divided amongst all political subdivisions
> impacted. (schools, counties, townships, other entities that receive TPP
> tax money)  The group letter is attached for your review.  The OTA will
> continue to work with our partners and all interested parties.
> SB 109 Property Taxes (Gibbs) - Hearing in Senate Ways & Means Committee
> This bill would exempt from real property taxation the increased
> valuation of a single-family residential property owned by a developer
> or builder until the title to the property is transferred.  The Ohio
> Township Association joined with five other organizations to oppose SB
> 109 due to the potential loss in property tax revenue.  Our opposition
> letter is attached for your review.  The OTA will continue to work with
> our partners and interested parties on the bill.
> SB 128 Township Dance Halls (Strahorn) - Hearing in Senate State & Local
> Government & Veterans Affairs
> This bill would allow townships to issue permits for dances held in the
> township.  Please find attached the sponsor testimony of Senator
> Strahorn.
>
> There have been several bills introduced over the last week or two.
> Please carefully review these bills.  Should you have concerns with
> these bills, please let me know and please share those concerns with
> your legislators. To view the complete bill please visit
> www.legislature.state.oh.us.
> HB 184 Employee Verification (Combs)
> To require employers to register and participate in a status
> verification system to verify the work eligibility status of all new
> employees and to affirm their participation on their state income tax
> returns, to specify that an employer's failure to affirm their
> participation in the status verification system on their state income
> tax returns constitutes falsification or dereliction of duty, to require
> public agencies to cancel contracts with private employers who do not
> participate in a status verification system, to require jail officials
> to make a reasonable effort to verify the citizenship of confined
> persons, to collect electronic fingerprints of illegal aliens, and to
> notify the United States Department of Homeland Security in certain
> circumstances, to prohibit political subdivisions from restricting
> communication and cooperation with federal officials regarding a
> person's citizenship status, to require judges and magistrates to
> consider immigration status and other factors in determining a
> defendant's bail, and to declare an emergency. (referred to House State
> Government)
> HB 212 Amateur Radio Zoning (Stebelton, Okey)
> To codify federal restrictions on local zoning of amateur station
> antenna structures thereby preserving amateur radio service
> communications as a Homeland Security resource and to place the burden
> of proof for compliance on the zoning authority. (referred to House
> Public Safety & Homeland Security)
> HB 220 Local Government Notices (Chandler)
> To implement the recommendations of the Local Government Public Notice
> Task Force by authorizing legal publication to be made in a newspaper of
> general circulation, eliminating certain publication and postal
> privilege requirements, reducing the number of times publication must be
> made, requiring newspapers to establish a government rate for
> publication, allowing publication of a summary of an ordinance rather
> than publishing it in its entirety, and allowing the costs of publishing
> delinquent property tax lists to be charged to delinquent taxpayers.
> (referred to House Local Government & Public Administration)
>
>
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>
>