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Ohio Department of Health outlines licensure and certification programs in House Bill 59 review
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Summary
At a second hearing on House Bill 59, Ohio Department of Health officials described multiple licensure and certification programs (food safety, REHS, radon, lead, radiologic licensing, home health, residential care and nursing homes) and responded to committee questions about continuing education and a fiscal change tied to a radiation expert certificate.
The Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee held an invited testimony session on House Bill 59 to review occupational licenses and certifications overseen by the Ohio Department of Health.
Lisa Griffin Chapa, Director of Government Affairs at ODH, introduced the department's role and turned testimony over to program staff. Renee Dickman, Chief of the Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection, described several programs: food safety manager certification (issued by ODH after a course and exam; ODH issues about 15,000 manager certificates annually and the manager certificate does not expire), the Registered Environmental Health Specialist registration (education and experience requirements, an advisory board, and continuing education expectations), the radon education and licensing program (ODH provides free radon test kits and cited large annual testing and mitigation activity), the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (six licensure categories and roughly 2,100 licensed lead professionals statewide), and radiologic/radioactive material certifications (multiple certification categories, continuing education requirements, and program budgets). James Hodge, Chief of Healthcare Compliance, described licensing for home health providers, residential care facilities and nursing homes and provided current active‑license counts and fee schedules.
ODH staff said manager-certification courses are provided by external providers (fees typically $78–$180) while ODH issues the certificate at no charge. For radon, Dickman told the committee that radon is "the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers" and that ODH offers free radon test kits via ohio.radon.com. On lead, ODH emphasized recent federal rule changes on hazard and clearance levels as a driver of refresher training content. The department also described differing approaches to continuing education: some lead refresher courses include a short examination while radon continuing education varies by provider.
Vice Chair Brenner questioned ODH about what counts as approved continuing education and why required hours differ across licensure categories; ODH staff said CE topics include emerging detection and mitigation technologies and are intended to keep professionals current. Ranking Member Weinstein raised a question citing the fiscal analysis and the projected revenue reduction tied to elimination of a "radiation expert" certificate in the House changes; ODH said it is reviewing the House amendments to House Bill 59 and will provide committee members with follow up information.
Committee members did not take formal action at the hearing. ODH invited additional questions and the chair adjourned the meeting.
