Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio Legislative Service Commission Members Only Briefs Provide Good Info.

Last year, the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, a non-partisan agency that serves the Ohio General Assembly, added a few very good Members Only Briefs to its bank of helpful information. 2010 additions include a Brief on Adopting General Assembly and Congressional Districts, an update to A Guide to Legislative History in Ohio, a Brief on Municipal Home Rule, a Q & A on School Calamity Days, and several others.

Ohio Statehouse Pays Tribute to Justice and Democracy

The Ohio Statehouse has opened up seven (7) exhibits that pay tribute to justice and democracy in America. The exhibits include: We the People, Equality, Inalienable Rights, Knowledge, Tolerance, Liberty and Participation. According to an Ohio Supreme Court Press Release: "Each theme is composed of quotations from notable Ohioans, Americans and Greeks. The justice portion includes a quote from the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court of Ohio Justice, Florence E. Allen, who said: “The attainment of justice is the highest human endeavor.” Click here for more information about the Statehouse Museum.

Ohio Criminal Justice Reforms Take Effect on July 6th

A landmark number of sweeping criminal justice reforms contained in Ohio SB 77 take effect next week on July 6, 2010. According to the Governor's office, this bill "expands DNA testing for certain convicted felons, eliminates DNA testing for felons who pleaded guilty or no contest, preserves biological evidence in criminal proceeding and improves eyewitness identification procedures." Amogn other changes, the bill specifically requires anyone 18 or older who is arrested for a felony offense after 7/1/11 to submit to a DNA collection procedure. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to adopt specific procedures regarding live and photo lineups. The new law also specifies what types of biological evidence (including blood, saliva and hair) must be preserved for up to 30 years in killings and sexual assaults. Click here to read a recent article from Cincinnati.com with pros and cons about the bill.

New Guide Available on Changes to Ohio Public Records Laws

The Ohio Legislative Service Commisson has just issued a new pamphlet entitled Public Records Law in Ohio. This guide defines what constitutes a public record, how to request public records, the costs to obtain public records, confidentiality rules that must be observed, and issues regarding document retention. The issuance of this publication comes just about one (1) year after public records laws were revised and augmented with the passage of HB 9 last September. 

Fewer Women Make It To Ohio Legislature

According to a Report from the Akron Beacon Journal on Ohio.com, the number of women in the Ohio General Assembly has slipped from a post-1992 high to a low of 17%. That means that only 1 in 6 legislators is female, making Ohio 40th on the list of states when it comes to electing or appointing women to house and senate positions. The Report indicates that Democrats are still matching the high levels from 1995-1996, but there is a huge decline in the number of women Republicans. Republican House Speaker Husted said they are working on bringing in women, and 2 women are now part of the majority floor leadership program. The Report quotes Kathleen Chandler as saying that while women who actually run for office are relatively successful, their participation is hindered when white males are appointed to fill vacancies. Interestingly, former Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, claims that it is difficult to "find qualified, interested women candidates."

Pamphlet Available re: Ohio Groundwater Ownership and Allocation

The Ohio Legislative Service Commission has added another Brief to its growing list of informative pamphlets on legal issues affecting Ohio and its citizens. The latest in this series is an Internet pamphlet entitled "Ohio Law Governing Ground Water Ownership and Allocation." A few of the other brochures that are available on the web include: Legislative History in Ohio; Employment-At-Will and Wrongful Discharge in Ohio; Graduated Licensing of Teenage Drivers; Grandparent Visitation; Methods of Allocating Parental  Rights and Responsibilities in Ohio; Ohio's Open Meeting Law; Ohio's Public Records Law; and Ohio OMVI Law.

Legislature Tinkering with Ohio H.B. 154 That Would Eliminate Mayor's Courts

If passed, H.B. 154 would eliminate Mayor's Courts in Ohio and transfer jurisdiction over their cases to local municipal courts. H.B. 154 was introduced in the House in April, but the Plain Dealer reports that recent revisions to the Bill would allow a limited number of townships/villages meeting statutory criteria to establish a community court with a magistrate from the muni court. Mayors and council members would be granted a nominal right to participate in the process of selecting the magistrate. Click here for a continually updated status report on the Bill from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The proposed revisions should be available within the next day or so.

No More "Trouble in River City" Ohio

Similar to the lead character in The Music Man, who decried the evils of pool tables in River City, Ohio Governor Strickland has signed legislation outlawing gambling machines that allegedly require skill and pay out prizes or cash over $10.00. Click here to read HB 117, and click here to read the Governor's Press Release. (As an aside, Youtube.com provides video clips of some of the most memorable songs from The Music Man.)

Strip Club Issue Won't Make November Ballot

The Columbus Dispatch reports that according to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, the group gathering signatures to put a strip-club issue on the November ballot is going to fall short and fail. The group, called The Vote No on Issue 1 Committee, got a 10-day extension of time to collect valid signatures to try and overturn SB 16, also known as the Community Defense Act, which was effective on September 4, 2007. The CDA prohibits patrons from touching nude or semi-nude dancers and requires all adult businesses (like adult bookstores and massage parlors) to close or at least cease adult activities  at 12:00 midnight.

Ohio SB209 Would Raise Money for Indigent Defense

On August 23, 2007, Senate Finance Chairman John Carey introduced Ohio SB 209 (available from Capital Connection, Lexis and Westlaw), to try and raise over $3 million dollars, specifically earmarked for indigent defense. The proposed fine increases are very hefty and range from a minimum of $75.00 to $500.00 per violation. All excess funds that would be collected for DUI offenses would be put into a separate state fund and could only be used for indigent defense. John Leutz of the CCAO has indicated that even if these funds are raised, they only constitute a 10th of the state-wide shortfall that has become a deficit for counties funding indigent defense.