Oelslager Shows Support of Legislation

COLUMBUS — State Representative Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) showed his support on two pieces of legislation, House Concurrent Resolution 35 and House Bill 178, which passed the Ohio House recently.  

House Concurrent Resolution 35 unanimously passed to invalidate a rule proposed by the Ohio Department of Education. This followed work by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. 

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, comprised of 10 state lawmakers, reviews proposed new, amended and rescinded rules from more than 100 agencies to make sure they don’t exceed the respective agency’s authority.

“JCARR did exactly what they were designed to do, stop the overreach of a state agency,” said Oelslager. “We have a process for changes and it is done through legislation,”

Typically, if there is a disagreement between the legislature and the agency on a rule, the agency will withdraw the rule for further work. In this case, the rule wasn’t withdrawn so the Ohio House overwhelmingly took action to invalidate it.

The Ohio Department of Education wanted to alter operating standards for charter public and non-public schools for curriculum requirements by eliminating certain subjects that may be required by higher education institutions.

The House’s vote to invalidate is part of the legislature’s broader oversight role in working to protect the rights and tax dollars of Ohioans. As a co-equal branch of government, oversight agency rules and regulatory reform has increasingly been a focus of the legislature in recent years.

The rule invalidation resolution now goes to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

Oelslager also casted a vote in favor of House Bill 178, which enacts Makenna’s Law to limit water pressure at pools.

The bill was introduced after Makenna Day, then seven-years-old, was seriously injured after she was standing over a water feature when it activated. Day underwent surgery and many follow-up appointments after the incident. 

“As a representative it is my duty to help pass legislation with the well-being of Ohioans in mind,” said Oelslager. “When a child is injured at a place designed for children we must intervene to do what it right.”

The bill passed with a vote of 86-8, and now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Oelslager is a co-sponsor on both pieces of legislation.