by J.D. Davidson
Ohio House Democrats want Gov. Mike DeWine to veto several parts of bills passed during a flurry of activity as the two-year General Session came to a close last week.
The requests came in a letter to DeWine and included the controversial House Bill 8, also known as the Parents Bill of Rights. That bill, among other things, includes a provision that requires school personnel to notify parents if a student confides to be gay or has gender identity concerns.
It also requires school districts to allow religious release time during the school day.
“House Bill 8 pushes Ohio’s teachers and counselors to out students questioning their identity, even when this information may endanger the safety and wellbeing of the child at home. This law will not help our families but will drive children further into isolation, drastically harming their personal safety and mental health,” House Democrats said in a statement. “The addition to the bill requiring districts to have religious relief time during the school day interferes with the ability of communities to build the education best for their children.”
The letter also asks for two line-item vetoes in House Bill 315, a 441-page bill introduced on the morning of the last day of the session.
Part of that bill prohibits any political subdivision, public officials or state agency from enforcing any guideline, mandate, recommendation or rule from the World Health Organizations.
“This is a broad declaration in law against following evidence-based and trusted public health guidelines. It could quickly chill the ability of health districts and public officials to keep our communities healthy because recommended policy happens to align with World Health Organization positions,” the letter reads. “To help maintain the health of Ohioans and allow local officials the ability to do what is best for the health of our communities, please veto this provision.”
Another part of the bill allows police departments to charge a fee for public documents relating to body camera footage in an investigation into an officer’s use of deadly force.
“Public records inherently belong to the public; law enforcement videos are a key mechanism for transparency and increasing public trust. The neighborhoods that most commonly experience police shootings and use of force will be most impacted by this policy change and cost barrier. Residents, grassroots organizations, and families of those involved should not have to foot the bill for critical transparency,” the letter reads.
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An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square.
Photo “Mike DeWine” by Mike DeWine.
