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Rep. Adam Miller Praises Passage of HB 147

Bipartisan bill improves the Department of Education's ability to protect children, increases support for special needs programs, increases investments in financial literacy
June 28, 2024
Adam C. Miller News

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) today hailed the passage of the bi-partisan House Bill (HB) 47, legislation requiring schools to file a report with the Ohio Department of Education for employee misconduct. The bill also includes provisions that will improve the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program and make significant increases in funding for the High School Financial Literacy Fund for both students and teachers. 

“This bill closes important loopholes to better protect students and parents, while we are increasing support for special needs programs and investments in financial literacy education,” said Rep. Miller. “School districts will have a clearer picture of employee records to help make the best, most informed decision on hiring.” 

The bill would:

  • Allow the State Board of Education to take disciplinary action against an individual who is required to register with the Department of Education (ODE) in the same manner as the State Board takes disciplinary action against license holders. Under current law, some individuals who are licensed by other state agencies must register with ODE to work in a school. These individuals include social workers, nurses, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Granting the State Board this authority would prevent the individual from working in another school.
  • Require public and chartered nonpublic schools to report to ODE when a substitute teacher is removed from the eligible substitute list for conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession.
  • Prohibit an educator whose license has been revoked from being an employee or contractor of a community school.
  • Add a teacher or school employee who retires while under threat of disciplinary investigation or threat of termination to the list of mandatory reports to the Ohio Department of Education.
  • Make administrative improvements to the Jon Peterson Special Needs and Autism Scholarship Program.
  • Requires the Department of Education and Workforce to calculate several cost components included in a school district’s base cost calculation to better reflect school attendance.
  • Make improvements and additional investment into the High School Financial Literacy Fund.

The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and now awaits the governor’s signature.