Committee hears proponent testimony on bill to limit public-employee "release time"

Chair Manchester convened the Government Oversight and Reform Committee and called up Senate Bill 8 for a second hearing that featured proponent testimony from representatives of conservative policy groups and a brief round of questions from senators.

Hannah Cubbins, legislative director for Americans for Prosperity Ohio, told the committee that "release time" occurs when government employees are released from their regular duties to conduct union business while continuing to receive full salary and benefits. She said the bill "merely clarifies that the cost of such membership and representation should be borne by those who voluntarily give their support to organized labor operations rather than by taxpayers." Cubbins cited a Goldwater Institute figure she said showed the city of Columbus paid "more than $1,100,000 and 38,469 hours" to individuals because of release time and said the department of corrections paid roughly $597,000 and 22,681 hours during a similar period; she attributed the numbers to the Goldwater Institute's written testimony.

Beau Uton of FGA Action also testified in support, saying taxpayer dollars should not fund what he described as partisan activity by unions. Uton told the committee that, according to his testimony, Ohio government unions spent "more than $6,000,000" on politics in the 2021–22 cycle and that national union affiliates give most political contributions to Democrats. He said some local contracts allow union leaders to work for the union while receiving full city salary and cited examples — including a Columbus contract he said authorizes full-time union work for a union president and vice president and an Akron contract he said allows 125 days per year for union business.

During questions, Senator DeMora asked for a specific example where release time harmed a state or community; Cubbins said she did not have a specific incident to cite but reiterated her view that what serves the public can be subjective. Senator Weller pressed whether the Goldwater Institute figures differentiate between release time used for union business and release time used to perform city-directed duties, arguing the study may overstate hours that were work for the city; Cubbins said the Goldwater Institute had difficulty obtaining the raw data and that she was open to alternative methodologies. Senator Weinstein raised the possibility that the bill could be applied subjectively and asked whether clarifying language might be needed to protect activities such as police or fire personnel advocating for safety or training; Cubbins said she would be open to an amendment to clarify those distinctions.

Committee members were also directed to written testimony on the iPads from Brian Williams for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio and Brian Norman for the Goldwater Institute, which the in-person witnesses had referenced. The chair concluded the second hearing on Senate Bill 8 without a committee vote recorded on the floor.

Ending: The hearing record shows proponents urging limits on taxpayer-funded release time and committee members seeking clarifications about scope and data; no formal committee action on the bill was recorded at the conclusion of the second hearing.