Ohio House Passes Legislation to Amend Regulations and Licensing of Insurance Navigators

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COLUMBUS—The Ohio House of Representatives today passed legislation that will provide authority to the State of Ohio in regulating health insurance navigators, which are individuals or entities charged with helping citizens obtain information relating to health insurance offerings through health exchanges.

Substitute House Bill 3, jointly sponsored by State Representatives Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), makes changes to the Ohio Revised Code, specifically regarding the licensing and education requirements for insurance agents that wish to serve as a navigator, as well as the manner in which the state will regulate navigators under the federal health care law.

“This legislation is the first step in declaring state authority as it relates to navigators and the exchange,” said Rep. Sears. “It is important that we focus on giving navigators and insurance agents adequate information on the known requirements so they can effectively perform their duties. I applaud the House’s action to move this measure forward.”

“Substitute House Bill 3 is a consumer protection bill,” said Rep. Kunze. “By establishing training and continuing education requirements, criminal records checks, conflict of interest disclosures, and certifications, we are ensuring that Ohio’s consumers are working with knowledgeable and trustworthy professionals.”

Substitute House Bill 3 specifies that navigators are not licensed insurance agents and therefore are prohibited from engaging in selling insurance and related functions. Additionally, the bill enables both licensed and unlicensed insurance agents to be certified as navigators.

Rep. Sears and Rep. Kunze, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Insurance, will be conducting interested party meetings for stakeholders interested in participating in the administrative rule process that will begin following the enactment of Substitute House Bill 3. Starting tomorrow, March 14th, stakeholders have 30 days to submit comments, suggestions and questions to Rep. Sears’ office for consideration.

Substitute House Bill 3 passed with strong bipartisan support and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Ohio House Approves St. Rep. Sears’ Pit Bull Legislation

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COLUMBUS—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova) today announced that House Bill 14—which revises the stereotyping of pit bills and adds due process in the Ohio Revised Code—passed from the Ohio House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

 

House Bill 14 would remove the Ohio Revised Code specification of pit bull breeds being inherently vicious. Current law defines vicious dogs as having histories of unprovoked aggression as well as any dog commonly known as a “pit bull.” Since a pit bull is not a distinct dog breed, the term often refers to other breeds’ resemblance to the idea of a pit bull, including American Staffordshire terriers, boxers, mastiffs, and bull terriers.

 

“Current law implies that pit bulls are inherently vicious and are the only dog breed that would attack without provocation,” Rep. Sears said. “It unfairly stereotypes dogs based solely on their appearance and allows truly vicious dogs to continue to roam our streets.”

 

The American Temperament Test Society, which tests the disposition of popular dog breeds based on unprovoked aggression and temper toward other dogs and people, found that pit bulls received an overall commendable temperament grade of 84.3 percent. Comparatively, they scored more favorably than, golden retrievers (84.2 percent), cocker spaniels (81.7 percent) and Chihuahuas (70 percent). Sears hopes that these findings will help to clear up public misconceptions about pit bull breeds and set a more accurate standard for deeming a dog as “vicious.”

 

"House Bill 14 holds both the dog and the owner responsible for the dog’s behavior and provides additional tools to law enforcement to protect our communities," said Rep. Sears.

 

House Bill 14 will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Batchelder Elected Speaker of Ohio House

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House Republican Leadership Announced

COLUMBUS – The House Republican Caucus today selected their leadership team for the 129th General Assembly. State Representative William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) was selected by his legislative peers to serve as the 101st Speaker of the Ohio House.
Joining the Speaker-elect, State Representative Louis W. Blessing Jr. (R-Cincinnati) will serve as Speaker Pro Tempore, State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) will serve as the Majority Floor Leader, and State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Township) will serve as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Returning as the House Republican Whip team, State Representative John Adams (R-Sidney) will serve as the Majority Whip and State Representative Cheryl Grossman will serve as the Assistant Majority Whip.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected by my constituents to return as their state representative and equally honored that my legislative colleagues have entrusted me to lead the House of Representatives,” said Batchelder. “The potential this state has is unlimited, and we now have the people involved who are prepared to move ahead and work in the spirit of cooperation to find thorough solutions to the matters facing Ohio.”
The official swearing in of new members and leadership positions will occur on Monday, January 3rd at 2 p.m., during opening day ceremonies in Columbus.
Batchelder represents the 69th House District, which includes portions of Medina County. He previously served for more than 30 years as a state representative in the Ohio General Assembly and served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 1995 to 1998. Batchelder served as a judge on the Ninth District Court of Appeals. He returned to the Ohio House in 2007.
Batchelder will be sworn in by his wife, Judge Alice Batchelder.

OEC Exposes Democrats’ Defamation Of State Reps Sears and Snitchler

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COLUMBUS—The Ohio Elections Commission today ruled that the smear campaigns launched by the House Democratic Caucus Fund against Reps. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp) and Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown) are false. The ruling discredited the Democrats’ claims that, in opposing House Bill 19, Sears and Snitchler voted to allow child molesters and sex offenders to work as school bus drivers. The House Democratic Caucus Fund agreed to a stipulation that they violated the false statement statute in lying about the voting records of Rep. Sears and Rep. Snitchler.

“The Democrats have shown that they know no bounds when it comes to their dirty gutter politics,” said Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee director Mike Dittoe. “All they’ve done is waste time by distracting from the facts.”
Sears filed the elections complaint on the grounds that the House Democratic Caucus lied in two television ads. Contrary to these ads, prior to HB 19, criminals who were convicted of molesting and abusing children were already prevented from being school bus drivers. House Bill 19 actually weakened the restrictions on convicted criminals who could pose a threat to Ohio’s schoolchildren.

“I’m pleased that the OEC cleared my and Rep. Snitchler’s names and provided the people of Ohio with accurate information,” said Sears. “As a mother, there is nothing more important than protecting our children and keeping our communities safe. Fear mongering should not have been used to try to frighten parents and sway their votes.”

More Ohio Democrat Lies in Ads Getting the OEC Treatment

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COLUMBUS—Last week, bus drivers, parents, community members and other residents of the 46th Ohio House District spoke out against a false political advertisement that is now the subject of an elections complaint before the Ohio Elections Commission. State Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp) today filed an elections complaint against the House Democratic Caucus Fund, candidate for District 46 Harry Barlos, candidate for District 50 Todd Bosley, and each of their campaign committees.



The complaint charges that the House Democratic Caucus Fund and the two Democratic candidates lied in two televisions ads, which accuse Rep. Sears and her colleague, State Rep. Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown), of voting to allow schools to hire as bus drivers criminals convicted of molesting and abusing children. However, prior to House Bill 19, the measure in question, criminals convicted of molesting and abusing children were already prevented from being school bus drivers. Therefore, the television advertisements, blatantly lie about the effects of HB 19 on restrictions on hiring school bus drivers.

“This legislation actually weakened the restrictions on convicted criminals who could become school bus drivers,” said Sears. “I find it extremely disappointing and, quite frankly, insulting that the my opponent and his allies would spread blatant lies about this legislation in order to win an election—even if it means spreading fear throughout our communities. As a mother, there is nothing more important than ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe for our children, and I know that my colleague Rep. Snitchler, who is a father, feels the same way.”


A Toledo-area Channel 13 ABC “Truth Test” segment investigated the dubious claims made against Rep. Sears and concluded that they had no basis and were in fact false.

Ohio Health Care Freedom Act Update

State Representatives Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Barbara Sears (R-Maumee) praised the Ohio Senate for taking action on the Ohio Health Care Freedom Act saying:

“Senate Bill 244, introduced by Senators Shannon Jones and Tim Grendell, is a vital step toward ensuring that Ohioans will maintain control over their own health care. With our state already facing an $8 billion budget deficit in the next budget, the last thing Ohio’s families need is a pricy, substandard mandate that will diminish their access to vital services while driving up costs on the taxpayers and small businesses.

“This is a turning point in our state’s history that can either spur us to protect the interests of our state, or bankrupt Ohio’s families and grow our deficit. It’s clear which side House Insurance Committee chairman Dan Dodd and the House majority has chosen by silencing our Ohio Health Care Freedom Act, which we proposed in August 2009. Because the House majority refused to give this measure due consideration, I am pleased that our colleagues in the Senate have stepped forward to provide leadership on this issue.

“In the wake of the federal health care bill’s passage, Senate Bill 244 will ensure that Ohio is not soaked with new federal taxes or mandates and help give Ohioans a voice on the health care reform issue.”

If you support this legislation, you will want to sign this petition to keep the momentum going strong.

Rep. Sears: Improve Medicaid, Save Tax Dollars

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Columbus—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) [yesterday] offered sponsor testimony on House Bill 240, legislation that would fix inefficiencies in Ohio’s Medicaid system.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to offer testimony in the House Health committee today,” Sears said. “If this opportunity had afforded itself earlier in the 128th General Assembly the Legislature would have been able to examine the proposal more closely possibly putting some of the reforms in place to serve the Ohio taxpayers and improve healthcare.”
House Bill 240 is a vital component of “The Future of Ohio” Government Reform package, a collection of 10 bills that was unveiled by House Republicans in November. These bills aim to improve government efficiency, create jobs and make Ohio nationally competitive. House Bill 240, which was introduced in June as both a stand-alone bill and a cost-saving amendment to the budget, would identify and repair inefficiencies while implementing vital cost-containment measures.
“House Bill 240 is a responsible, sustainable solution to fill the budget deficit, and I am pleased that House Democrats are finally giving this proposal the hearing it deserves,” Sears said. “We need to work together to restore Ohio to fiscal discipline, and trimming wasteful spending and government squandering is a vital first step.”
Currently, Ohio’s Medicaid program is the state’s largest expenditure at 40 percent above the national average. In 2006, the Ohio auditor of state conducted a performance audit of all state Medicaid spending and since made numerous recommendations to improve the system’s efficiency and effectiveness.
“This legislation provides the opportunity to save Ohio’s taxpayers $122 million annually in Medicaid savings that could have been used to support necessary programs that were cut in this budget,” Sears finished.