Committee advances three bills: House Bills 20, 23 and 247

The House Public Safety Committee on June 11 favorably reported three bills by roll call.

House Bill 20: Vice Chair Miller moved that H.B. 20 be favorably reported and recommended for passage. The clerk called the roll and the chair announced the bill passed "with 7 affirmative votes and 2 negative votes." Recorded responses in the roll call included Chair Abrams (yes), Vice Chair Miller (yes), Ranking Member Thomas (yes), Representative Brent (no), Representative Gambari (yes), Representative Hall (yes), Representative Humphrey (no), Representative LaRae (yes) and Representative Willis (yes).

House Bill 23: Vice Chair Miller moved to amend H.B. 23 with amendment 1360684, a change that exempts community-based correctional facilities and halfway houses from the bill—s provisions because residents in those facilities may lawfully participate in community activities under supervision. The committee accepted the amendment without objection and then voted to recommend H.B. 23 for passage. The chair announced the motion passed "with 10 affirmative votes and 0 negative votes."

House Bill 247: The committee considered substitute language L1360758-5 to H.B. 247 after stakeholder consultation. The substitute would, among other things, prohibit a dog owner from using a dangerous or vicious dog while hunting (with field-trial exemptions), remove a criminal penalty for certain dog-warden duties while maintaining enforcement obligations under ORC 955, restore the dog-designation/appeal process and exempt nonprofit animal shelters from registration requirements when good-faith checks are performed. Vice Chair Miller moved that H.B. 247 be favorably reported; the chair announced the bill passed "with 11 affirmative votes and 0 negative votes."

The chair asked members to sign the committee reports and to indicate any cosponsor interest as the reports circulated.