Ohio Goal: Become the most military family-friendly state in the nation

Ohio is locked in a battle to become the most “family-friendly” state in the nation when it comes to active-duty military personnel and veterans.

It is a race against other states to become the first to adopt all ten policies identified and promoted by the US Department of Defense.

The latest effort to complete the list of ten is a bill introduced Monday by Sen. Niraj Antani, R- Miamisburg.

“This bill will require every state agency to ask the question of anybody interacting with any state agency about their veteran status or current military status,” Antani said. 

For example, a person working at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would ask a customer if they are active-duty military or a veteran.

If the answer is “yes” then their contact information could be given to “Ohio Veterans Services” or the customer could be given additional information on benefits available to them.

The “Ask The Question” policy from the DOD is designed to help ensure that veterans and active-duty personnel are afforded the benefits they deserve.

The Military State Policy guidelines even phrase how the question should be asked: “Have you or a family member ever served in the military?” 

The question is also supposed to be asked in writing on all forms being submitted to the state.

The DOD website, statepolicy.militaryonesource.mil, lists all ten policies of interest and includes a map that shows the status of each state’s legislative action on all ten policies.

So far Ohio has enacted eight of the ten policies. The most recent action by Ohio lawmakers on the DOD policies included two moves in a single bill.

It allowed children of active-duty personnel to pre-enroll in a school district before they actually move to their new home during a transfer.

It also allows students to take advantage of remote learning in their new district if it is offered.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce supports the “Ask The Question” bill from Antani because it helps to further position Ohio as a family-friendly state. 

Chris Kershner, President and CEO of the Chamber said they know the DOD is watching how states handling the ten policy issues.

“They are looking for what parts of the country are checking a majority of those boxes, so it is not only the right thing to do to honor those who have served our country but also the right thing to do from an economic development perspective,” Kershner said.

Passage of the “Ask The Question” and other policies could help Ohio gain special status in the eyes of the DOD if all ten policies are adopted. 

Kershner and Sen. Antani are hoping it counts when it comes time to reassign missions and jobs.

“When they go through base realignment and closure this is one of the things they look at. Is this state and this area friendly to active-duty military?” Antani said.

One other bill, HB 92, sponsored by Rep. Cindy Abrams, R- Harrison and Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, is the only other remaining policy to be adopted on the DOD list.

It requires that children’s services notify the Armed Services if an investigation of child abuse or neglect involves a parent, guardian or custodian in the military. 

That proposal passed the Ohio House on March 17 but has languished in a Senate committee since then.