LEGISLATIVE MATTERS | Ohio House passes bill utilizing American Rescue Plan funds

COLUMBUS – Substitute House Bill 169 passed the Ohio House by a vote of 84-6 Thursday. The legislation sponsored by state Rep. Al Cutrona of Canfield, R-59th, will invest $4.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan dollars in states, schools, the health care industry, first responders and law enforcement.

Among the Democrats voting for the bill was state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, who said in a news release that the bill is funded through several federal COVID-19 relief packages, the majority of which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act backed by Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden earlier this year.

The bill was sent to Gov. Mike DeWine for signature.

Cutrona in a news release said Ohio's public schools will see $2.3 billion in assistance from these federal funds. About $2 billion of it would be federally prescribed and allocated per the school funding formula. Additionally, $155.2 million will be allocated to non-public schools.

"It is important that we allocate this money to our children as they are the future of our state and we must always invest in that future to ensure Ohio continues to be a great place to live and raise a family," Cutrona said.

Lepore-Hagan said hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to Ohio under the American Rescue Plan were at risk of expiring had the general assembly not taken legislative action on the funds this month, as News 5 Cleveland reported last month.

"Of course I'm happy to vote for this common-sense legislation," Lepore-Hagan said. "But you have to admire the chutzpah of these Republicans in Ohio.

"Not one Republican voted for the American Rescue Plan in Congress, but that won't stop them from taking credit at the state level," Lepore-Hagan said. "I hope the public sees through this and remember[s] that when Democrats win, they fight for the people, not themselves."

Cutrona said the substitute House bill also allocates $1.89 billion for health and human services funding, to help address the major workforce issues the health care industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cutrona said $175 million of that will support the work of state and local law enforcement to prevent and solve crimes throughout Ohio.

"Protecting and funding our law enforcement has always been a top priority of mine and I am elated to see House Bill 169 pass on the house floor ensuring those on the front lines are funded and have the proper training and equipment available to them," Cutrona said.

Cutrona said law enforcement and first responders will get access to upgraded technology for crime laboratories.

He said $75 million will be allocated to help provide relief for entities that have faced new challenges and stresses due to COVID-19. The funding will be used to address the stress and trauma that first responders have faced because of the pandemic and will help them cope with that stress by creating wellness programs, he said.

Lepore-Hagan provided her own breakdown of the Sub. HB 169 allocations:

• $2.48 billion for K-12 schools;
• $1.05 billion to help health care providers hire and retain employees;
• $639 million in supplemental child care grants to enhance the hiring and retention of staff and improve access to child care;
• $250 million in grants for law enforcement agencies;
• $91.1 million for the Department of Health to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and address other public health priorities;
• $7.3 million to prevent youth homelessness.

She said the American Rescue Plan is landmark legislation for the Biden administration and advances many long-held Democratic priorities, including investments in working people, families and communities as Ohio and the nation continue to build back amid the COVID-19 pandemic after decades of failing to invest in families and communities.

She said the plan will lower health insurance premiums, extend tax credits to families with children and invest in jobs.

Cutrona's Ohio House Bill 243 passes

COLUMBUS – House Bill 243, another piece of legislation sponsored by Cutrona that's expected to streamline knife regulations in the state, also passed the House Thursday by a 57-36 vote.

The bill would keep political subdivisions from enacting their own knife laws, contributing to a "confusing patchwork of knife regulations" for Ohioans, reads a news release from Cutrona's office.

Under current law, Ohioans who travel to other cities or towns while carrying knives — which could be used as work tools — could be subject to prosecution, if unaware of that locality's knife restrictions.

Cutrona said similar legislation has been enacted in 12 states throughout the United States and no issues have arisen regarding knife protection laws. Furthermore, there has been no effort to repeal these laws.

"House Bill 243 is a great opportunity to protect the unwary from overbearing and confusing knife regulations and as an opportunity for Ohio to join 12 other states in leading the way on Knife Preemption Law," Cutrona said.

This story was originally published December 11, 2021 at 8:39 AM with the headline "LEGISLATIVE MATTERS | Ohio House passes bill utilizing American Rescue Plan funds."