Oelslager Votes Yes on Several Bills

COLUMBUS — State Representative Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) showed his support by voting yes on several pieces of legislation that came before the Ohio House of Representatives Wednesday, Oct. 27.  

House Bill 3, known as Aisha’s Law, will help protect victims of domestic violence that are in extreme risk and lethal situations. 

“This bill will help by extending victims’ rights to give them more avenues to get away from their attackers,” said Oelslager. “It also broadens the offense of domestic violence so a perpetrator of abuse cannot slip through the judicial system.”

The bill helps bridge law enforcement and the courts in protecting victims of domestic violence. H.B. 3 passed with a House vote of 91-2 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 226 will expand intimidation offense to guardian ad litem and court appointed special advocates by adding them to the list of protected classes as an officer of the courts. 

The charge of intimidation or intimidation in a criminal case would be a first class misdemeanor if the victim is a guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate. H.B. 226 unanimously passed House vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 254 will provide for the establishment of a domestic violence fatality review board. The board will be established by county or region and requires the collection of information related to domestic violence fatalities to be submitted annually to the Ohio Department of Health.

The purpose of the board is to promote cooperation and communication between all groups, professions, agencies, or entities engaged in the prevention and education about domestic violence.

The bill passed a House vote by 91-1 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Oelslager is a co-sponsor of House bills 3, 226 and 254. 

He also voted yes on a concurrence vote for House Bill 172 to revise Ohio’s fireworks law. The revision will allow individuals to possess consumer-grade fireworks in Ohio and to discharge them on any of the nine following holidays:

·         New Year’s Day

·         Chinese New Year;

·         Cinco de Mayo;

·         Memorial Day weekend;

·         Juneteenth;

·         July 3,4 and 5 and the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays preceding and following;

·         Labor Day weekend;

·         Diwali;

·         New Year’s Eve.

The bill passed by a House vote of 71-21 and is now headed to the Governor’s office.

Oelslager also showed his support for Senate Bill 36 to revise the eligibility standards and procedure for awarding reparations to crime victims.

The bill will extend the time to fill an application for reparations to three years after the crime has been committed and includes two additional types of victims. 

An immediate family member of a victim of homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence or a severe and permanently incapacitating condition resulting in paraplegia or similar life-altering condition and a person who suffers trauma so severe it impedes their ability to participate in normal daily life. 

Senate Bill 36 passed a House vote of 94-1 and now heads to the Governor’s office.