Women's Public Policy Network

Ohio

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 05/07/2018 Weekly Review

Monday, May 14th, 2018

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: In the weekly reviews from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we look back on last week’s highlights from the WPPN, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, showcase weekly news clips, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our emails to receive these updates in your inbox every week!

‘Year of the Woman?’ We crunched the numbers to find out.
In the run up to the 2018 election, news outlets have been predicting that this election year could be another ‘Year of the Woman.’ So, we crunched the numbers from last week’s Primary Election in Ohio to find out. Read our latest blog post for the top ten highlights from the data.
Inspired? You can join in on the conversation by checking out our tread on Twitter.
U.S. House Farm Bill Would Hurt Women and Their Families
More than 1.4 million Ohioans rely on federal food assistance. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program.
But the House Farm Bill currently advancing in Congress (H.R. 2) would cut food aid by more than $17 billion over 10 years and change SNAP in ways that would threaten the economic and physical security of women and families. Now, the bill is up for a vote in the full House this week. (Read more)
We celebrate moms each and every day, but this past Sunday was a very special day to honor, love, support and recognize moms. And there is one gift all moms need that is better than even a handmade card: paid leave.
In our latest blog post, we dig more into the benefits that paid leave has for new moms and ways you can join the efforts to advance a statewide policy here in Ohio.Read the full post here.
Looking Ahead: Partner Events This Upcoming Week
 
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Doors Open: 5:00 PM
(Public Reception – Enjoy complimentary light bites from local women-led businesses)
Program Begins: 6:00 PM
The Ohio Theatre
39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Keyholder is the biggest night of the year. It’s where we come together as storytellers. Where stories of the change-makers, the disrupters, and the influencers are told. We fill the Ohio Theatre with 2,500 of us connected, ignited and fiercely committed to gender equality. 
 
This year two powerful storytellers will take the Keyholder stage. GEENA DAVIS and ROXANE GAY will share in an open and authentic dialogue about feminism, the representation of women in media and culture, and how women can use their voices, and why it matters that they do. 
 
We, The Women’s Fund, are committed to connecting those who share a passion for the causes that impact women and girls. We hope you’ll join us on May 16th to be on the frontlines of lasting social change.
Tickets available here.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The Boat House
679 West Spring Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Empowered Women Empower Women! 
Featuring: 
Michele Thornton, Senior Vice President of Sales for BET and author of Stratechic: Life and Career Winning Strategies for Women and Stratechic 2.0
Mistress of Ceremony:
Tracy Townsend, WBNS – 10TV News Anchor
 
Join the NC100BWCOC as they celebrate local Trailblazers:
Economic Empowerment Award – Christie Angel, President & CEO of YWCA Columbus
Champion Award – Senator Charleta Tavares, Ohio 15th District
Health Advocacy Award – Dr. Mysheika Williams Roberts, Columbus Public Health Commissioner
Education Scholarship – Presented to 4 Central Ohio African American female high school graduates
 
Tickets available here
#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly.

The legislature was out last week, but are back this week! Here are some updates to look for as we head into the last few weeks before a long recess:
  • HB 96 (Hughes) – Sex Offenses: Increases the penalty for sexual imposition if an offender has previously been convicted or pleaded guilty three or more times to any of the several specified sex offenses. The bill has passed out of the House, and is now moving through the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a second hearing on the bill for proponent testimony this Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 10:15 AM in the North Hearing Room.
  • HB 425 (Antani, Craig) – Body Cameras: The bill would establish that policy body camera footage be made public record with certain exceptions to protect privacy, including the following: a confidential investigatory record, a video within a private home, a video within a private business, or a video of a sex crime victim. The House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee will hold a second hearing on the bill for all testimony (with a possible substitution bill) this Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 2:30 PM in Statehouse Room 116.
  • HB 492 (Gonzales) – State Procurement: Establishes the women-owned business enterprise program, which would require state agencies to establish goals for procurement of women-owned businesses. The House State & Local Government Committee will hold a second hearing on the bill for all testimony (and a possible substitute bill) this Wednesday, May 16. The Committee meets at 8:30 AM in Statehouse Room 114.
  • HB 507 (Gonzales) – Tax Credit: Allows a refundable income tax credit for parents of stillborn children. The House Ways & Means Committee will hold a third hearing on the bill for opponent and interested party testimony this Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 10:00 AM in Statehouse Room 121.
  • HB 511 (Lanese, Rogers) – Marriage Age: Makes changes to the state laws governing marriage ages by requiring both males and females to be aged 18, with exceptions for 17 year olds to marry with court approval. Legislation was prompted after a Dayton Daily News story investigated the prevalence of minors marrying in Ohio. The House Community & Family Advancement Committee will hold a fourth hearing on the bill for possible amendments and a vote this Wednesday, May 16. The Committee meets at 3:00 PM or after session in Statehouse Room 114.
  • SB 171 (Hottinger) – Protection Orders: Increases the penalty for violating a protection order under certain circumstances. The bill would then require those that have violated their protection orders to be electronically monitored by probation agencies. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a fourth hearing on the bill for all testimony with a possible vote this Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 10:15 AM in the North Hearing Room.
  • SB 190 (Hoagland) – Veteran Paid Leave: Grants full-time state employees paid leave for the purpose of attending medical examinations and appointments provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate Local Government, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a third hearing on the bill for all testimony on Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 9:45 AM in the South Hearing Room.
  • SB 267 (Brown, Kunze) – Soliciting: Increases the penalty for soliciting a person under the age of 18. It also sets the fines for these circumstances to be not more than $2,500, and allows for up to $1,000 of the fine to be deposited into the Victims of Human Trafficking Fund. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a first hearing on the bill for sponsor testimony this Tuesday, May 15. The Committee meets at 10:15 AM in the North Hearing Room.
We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on these and other women-centric legislation on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.
RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ADDRESS FORCED MARRIAGE
Last year, a Dayton Daily News investigation uncovered that due to loopholes in state law, forced child marriage was a reality in Ohio. The series found that between the years of 2000 and 2015 nearly 4,400 girls aged 17 years and younger – some even as young as 14 – were married, often to adult men much older than them.
House Bill 511 –a bipartisan proposal pending in the Ohio House– would change our marriage laws, raising the age to 18 except in very limited circumstances. We testified on the bill when it was before the House Community & Family Advancement Committee earlier this year (Read our testimony here).
 
TAKE ACTION
The bill is scheduled for a vote in the House Community & Family Advancement Committee this upcoming Wednesday, May 16. Use the letter writing tool from our partners at Innovation Ohio to contact members of the committee and urge them to vote YES when the bill is up for a vote later this week.