The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) advocacy team monitors healthcare related legislation, rule changes, and legislative updates for Ohio’s family physicians.
To access the OAFP Bill Tracker, visit the OAFP Public Policy webpage and click on the Bill Tracker icon.
Read on for this week’s updates and contact Advocacy Coordinator Kaela Springhetti with questions or for ways to get involved.
Ohio House Considers Mandating Daily Recess for K-8, Expanding High School PE Waivers
Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would require daily recess for students in kindergarten through 8th grade, guaranteeing time for physical activity during the school day (Source: Ohio Bill Would Mandate Daily Recess For K-8, Expand PE Options for HS, Akron Beacon-Journal via The Columbus Dispatch, January 29).
House Bill 304, sponsored by Representatives Tom Young (R-Washington Township, OH) and Melanie Miller (R-Ashland, OH), would mandate 30 minutes of recess in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon for K-8 students in public schools, community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools.
The bill would also allow club and travel sports to count toward high school physical education graduation requirements, expanding an existing waiver that currently applies only to school-sponsored athletics and a limited number of activities.
U.S. Senate Passes an Amended Version of a Government Funding Package
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
On January 30, the United States Senate passed an amended version of a government funding package that provides a year-long appropriation for multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, while the Department of Homeland Security would continue to operate under a 2-week continuing resolution while lawmakers discuss possible guardrails around ICE. This deal is a reflection of bipartisan negotiations that took place this past week between Senate Democrats and the White House to address a funding stalemate considering the ongoing events in Minneapolis.
It’s also worth noting that the year-long appropriations package includes a multi-year reauthorization of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program; a one-year extension of Community Health Center funding and the National Health Service Corps; and an extension of telehealth flexibilities for 2 years.
While the government will enter a brief shutdown, it is expected that the House will take up this package when they return to Washington the first week of February.
Ohio Democrat Wants to Stop Bills that Would Grant ICE Access to Hospitals
Source: Dayton Now
A Cleveland-area Democratic lawmaker is rallying opposition to a package of Republican-backed bills that would expand federal immigration enforcement powers within the state, characterizing the measures as an overreach into local governance and healthcare.
State Representative Juanita O. Brent (D-Cleveland, OH) issued a legislative update recently urging constituents to oppose four bills currently moving through committee that she labeled “pro-ICE” legislation.
The proposals include House Bill 281, which would require Ohio hospitals to grant U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entry to facilities to conduct arrests.
Rep. Brent also targeted House Bill 42, a measure that would mandate state agencies to collect and report immigration data.
Two other pieces of legislation, House Bill 26 and Senate Bill 172, would prohibit municipalities from enacting policies that restrict ICE operations within their jurisdictions, effectively banning so-called “sanctuary city” policies.
HB 281 is a dangerous bill that not only interferes with patient privacy and safety but is disruptive to hospital operations. A hospital in Minneapolis had to deal with ICE agents trying to restrain a patient with multiple skull fractures (8?) that the agents claimed he got from running into a wall!