Release: <blockquote>(Columbus) – Continuing efforts to strengthen the state’s economy, the
Ohio Senate today approved conference committee changes to House Bill
487, a budget reform bill designed to further streamline state policy,
programs and agency operations.
“The comprehensive review of the enacted state budget has identified
hundreds of changes to improve state services and streamline programs to
better serve Ohioans,” said Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (R- New
Richmond).
Major provisions in the legislation include consolidation of state
offices and programs to improve operational efficiencies and reduce
costs, changes to health services that will result in better care and
improved performance, and the elimination of obsolete and redundant
rules and regulations that serve as a barrier to job growth.
In addition to the $42 million in “green projects” for the Clean Ohio
program, $15 million has been added for the Clean Ohio brownfield
remediation. An appropriation of $13 million was added for Governor
Kasich’s Third grade reading guarantee and $3 million for Healthy Lake
Erie.</blockquote>
