Rep. DeGeeter - Pending Legislation of the 127th General Assembly
 

HB 485 (DeGeeter)

Subject: Safe haven law

Introduced in the House on 2/19/08 and referred to the Juvenile & Family Law committee on 3/5/2008. It is still pending further consideration.

Enacted in some form by 49 states, safe haven laws allow parents to safely surrender unwanted infants, usually under a no-questions-asked policy if the child is unharmed.

Currently, in Ohio, peace officers, hospital employees, and emergency medical service workers can accept possession of a child on behalf of their employing agency, hospital, or organization if the child is brought within three days after his or her birth.

HB 485 broadens Ohio's safe haven to allow parents to surrender a child for up to six days following his or her birth.

Also requires high schools to teach students about the safe haven law
 

HB 511 (DeGeeter)

Subject: Metroparks fines for rule violations

Introduced in the House on 3/18/08 and referred to the Local and Municipal Government & Urban Revitalization committee on 3/31/08. It is scheduled for its first hearing and sponsor testimony by Representative DeGeeter on 4/10/08.

Allows discretionary increases in fines imposed by Metroparks for violations of their rules and bylaws

Boards of park commissioners will have the option to raise fines from $100 to $150. $150 is the current fine for other minor misdemeanors in Ohio.

Supported by the Cleveland Metroparks Rangers, the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, and the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission

Any revenue increases will go directly to the Metropolitan Park Districts
 

House Bill 46 (DeGeeter, Stewart J):

Subject: Consumer credit reports-security freeze

Introduced in the House Financial Institutions, Real Estate & Securities committee on 2/20/07.

Passed out of the House on 5/22/07

Introduced in the Senate Judiciary Civil Justice committee on 5/22/07. It is still pending further consideration.

Requires a consumer reporting agency to allow a consumer to temporarily lift a security freeze from the consumer's account for a specific period of time.

In addition to the more deliberate method available under the bill to temporarily remove a security freeze, requires consumer reporting agencies to choose and develop, by January 31, 2009, a method for receiving security freeze release requests electronically and responding to those requests within 15 minutes.

-Creates a list of entities to which a consumer reporting agency may release a consumer's credit report, while a security freeze is in place on that credit report.
 

House Bill 90 (DeGeeter, Foley, Patton, Mandel):

Subject: Corporal Brad D. Squires Memorial Highway-Interstate 71

Brad Squires passed away on June 9th, 2005, when his vehicle hit an explosive device during combat operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq.

Introduced in the House Infrastructure, Homeland Security, & Veterans Affairs committee on 3/06/07. Further consideration of the bill is pending.

House Bill 90 would designate the portion of Interstate 71 located within the city of Middleburg Heights as the "Corporal Brad D. Squires Memorial Highway."

On 6/17/07, House Bill 90 was amended onto an omnibus memorial highway bill: House Bill 273 (Husted & Beatty).

On 6/27/07, HB273 passed 3rd consideration on the House Floor, and as of 7/02/07 it is awaiting further consideration in the Senate Highways & Transportation Committee.
 

House Bill 292 (DeGeeter):

Subject: Vehicle validation sticker theft to be given a felony of the fifth degree

Introduced in the House Criminal Justice committee on 7/26/07. Currently awaiting sponsor testimony.

House Bill 292 would amend section 2913.71 of the Revised Code to provide that theft of a vehicle validation sticker is a felony of the fifth degree.

The theft of vehicle validation stickers is a misdemeanor under current law, as the legislature has not specifically included theft of validation stickers in section 2913.71 of the Revised Code.

Rep. DeGeeter previously introduced House Bill 687 during the 126th General Assembly that sought to increase the penalty for the theft of a vehicle validation sticker.

Need for this legislation is evident as theft of vehicle validation stickers is on the rise.
 

House Bill 303 (DeGeeter, Hughes):

Subject: With license suspensions, establish reinstatement fee-payment plan extensions

Introduced in the House Infrastructure, Homeland Security, & Veterans Affairs committee on 8/28/07. -Sponsor testimony given on 10/3/07.

House Bill 303 would amend the Ohio Revised Code to clarify that Courts, in pending Driving Under Suspension cases, can order an individual's driver's license reinstatement fees to be paid in installments to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The need for this legislation, notably supported by the Ohio Judicial Conference and the Department of Public Safety, was brought to Rep. DeGeeter's attention by Judge Kenneth Spanagel of the Parma Municipal Court.

Main goal of this legislation is to allow for more individuals to return to valid driver's license status, obtain auto insurance, and ensure reinstatement fees be timely paid to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

A payment plan option is invaluable for the many Ohioans who need to regain their status as valid licensed drivers and obtain required auto insurance, thus helping ensure their return to being working and productive citizens.

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For more information about Rep. DeGeeter's legislation, visit www.legislature.state.oh.us.