House Committee Approves Legislation Supporting County-Owned Hospitals

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House State and Local Government this week voted to favorably report out House Bill 405, legislation which clarifies the nature of the appointing authority to the boards of trustees for local county hospitals.

The bill, sponsored by State Representatives Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe), clarifies explicitly that the appointing authority for hospital trustees is comprised of county commissioners each having 1 vote, the senior Common Pleas Judge having 1 vote, and the Probate Judge, if they are separate people, having 1 vote. 

“This bill provides needed clarity for both statutory and charter counties that operate county-hospitals with regard to board of trustees appointments,” said Stewart.

The bill also includes provisions relating to county hospitals in counties that have adopted a charter form of government. The current statutes regarding county hospital appointing authorities are silent regarding how they apply in charter counties. 

Currently, MetroHealth in Cuyahoga County is the only hospital located in a charter county. H.B. 405 would codify the process for making appointments to a hospital board in a charter community by incorporating the involvement of the Cuyahoga County Executive and the Cuyahoga County Council, among other technical fixes.

The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote.