ACLU supports Parole Board recording bill after amendment narrows scope

Summary

After the committee adopted a sponsor amendment limiting required recordings to revocation and post‑release control violation hearings and exempting victims' statements and protected health information, the ACLU of Ohio urged support for House Bill 31 as a transparency measure for the Parole Board.

The committee recorded an adopted sponsor amendment to House Bill 31 and then heard proponent testimony from the ACLU of Ohio about why the bill merits support.

Chair Manning moved Amendment 1264 to clarify that the bill’s recording requirement applies to revocation and post‑release control violation hearings, and to exempt victims’ statements and protected inmate health information from disclosure; without objection the committee adopted the amendment.

Following that change, Gary Daniels, Legislative Director for the ACLU of Ohio, testified that HB 31 would expand public‑records access by requiring recordings of full Parole Board hearings and making those recordings and transcriptions requestable by certain parties and, ultimately, by the public. Daniels said better data about the Parole Board’s decisions could enable stakeholders to research and, if necessary, pursue reforms of parole procedures.

The committee scheduled HB 31 as having its second hearing; committee members had no questions of the ACLU witness at the conclusion of the session.