OHIOCHAMBER.COM MAY/JUNE 2016

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Former Speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner reflects on his time in office Lieutenant governor lauds business accomplishments at Annual Meeting

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Legislation introduced to legalize medical marijuana Ohio Chamber launches middle-market task force OBSC leads on rule relief legislation 2016 election: Analysis and recap Legalized marijuana should worry employers

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IT’S STILL JUST ME Former U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner reflects on his time in office

In his opening remarks to attendees regulatory process was out of at the Ohio Chamber’s Annual control.” Meeting, former U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner told the However, after being involved in his crowd, “It’s still just me” when homeowners association, he ran for addressing his recent retirement township trustee because someone from Congress. was needed to fill the position. Then when his state representative From his time in the Ohio House retired, party leaders asked him to to his October retirement from run for the Ohio House. his position as U.S. Speaker of the House, Boehner spent years as an “I told them they were out of their elected official, something he hadn’t minds, I had a business to run,” he really considered growing up as the said. “But I was frustrated and bored son of a bar owner in Cincinnati. to death, so I thought I could do Boehner credited his family of 11 both, and I ended up serving in the Ohio House for six years.” brothers and sisters and his work expecting to add to their majority QUICK GLANCE in his dad’s bar for teaching him He made a lot of friends at the and ended up losing it. When asked everything he needed to know about Statehouse, both in the House and by Gingrich, then Speaker of the being in politics. Senate, Republican and Democrat. House, what to do, Boehner said, “Newt, you’ve led the team as far as John Boehner “You have to learn to work with “Vern Riffe and I were friends, even you can. I think it’s time to go.” The everyone who walks in the door, Graduated Xavier University though he was on the other side of Republican caucus election didn’t whether that is a sibling, a bar the aisle,” he told the crowd at the bode well for Boehner, either, as he Worked as a small businessman customer or an elected official from theater in the Vern Riffe building. lost the election for chairman of the the other party,” he said. “I learned something from Vern — Republican caucus. Served as township trustee Boehner worked his way through say it like it is.” “Most members in that situation Served in the Ohio House Xavier University at a packing and In 1991, he ran for U.S. Congress would just pack their bags and plastics small business — a business and began a 25-year career in leave,” he said. “I decided I wasn’t Served 25 years in Congress he worked for after graduation. Washington, D.C. Boehner’s that smart. I was never going He worked his way up, bought out Recently resigned as accomplishments include being to let them see me sweat, never the person who had become his a member of the Gang of Seven, going to show them one ounce of U.S. Speaker of the House business partner and over the years, working with Newt Gingrich to disappointment. I was going to the company grew. craft the “Contract with America,” let my work speak for itself, and “The last thing I ever thought in my helping elect Ohioan Deborah Pryce I was going to work my way back wildest dream I’d ever do was be a to Congress and being elected to a into leadership.” of our Gross Domestic Product part of public service,” Boehner said. leadership position in the House. dropped five years in a row. He became a committee chairman “Like many small businesspeople, It wasn’t always easy. Boehner talked and worked on many issues with “We were able to make changes I thought government was too about the House Republican defeat Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy; to Medicare, which were the first big, they spent too much, and the in 1998, when the Republicans were other politicians called them entitlement changes made in 20 “political bookends.” years. We worked with Nancy Pelosi to make small tweaks to help In 2010, the Republicans took preserve and protect Medicare.” back the House, and Boehner was elected Speaker of the House, He also put a stop to earmarks. a job Boehner calls “a marvelous experience.” “Not all earmarks are bad,” he said, but he disagreed with the way the “I cut a deal with President Obama process was used to corrupt the to save $2.4 trillion in spending legislative process. over 10 years,” he said. “That’s the reason the deficit dropped four Continued on page 3 years in a row, and it’s the reason federal spending as a percentage

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LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LAUDS BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT ANNUAL MEETING

QUICK GLANCE Office to determine if the regulatory intent of the rule justifies the Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor talked about: impact to businesses. According to Taylor, CSI has reviewed 7,700 The elimination of the state’s rules, with 58 percent being overwhelming deficit eliminated or changed. The creation of more than The lieutenant governor also talked 400,000 jobs about the turnaround Ohio has The challenge of combatting opiate seen since 2010 when she and Gov. drug addiction took office. In addition to speaking about the elimination of the state’s overwhelming deficit Lt. Governor Mary Taylor and the creation of more than addressed the attendees of the Ohio 400,000 jobs, Taylor spoke of the Chamber’s Annual Meeting touting challenge of combatting opiate her business knowledge and the drug addiction, which is impacting administration’s accomplishments not only Ohio families but also on behalf of the business employers that support drug-free community. The former state workplaces. representative was endorsed by the Ohio Chamber Political Action Infrastructure is another challenge Committee when she ran for the for Ohio, Taylor said. House in 2006 due in part to her business experience. “We have overlooked infrastructure issues for far too long, both above “I’ve walked in your shoes, I’ve been and below ground,” she said. around business decision makers said. “I am working every single Taylor said she wants to hear from When I think back to and seen them make decisions,” day here to make sure I’m making Ohioans when it comes to our Taylor told the crowd of more than a difference. When I think back to state’s continued improvement. 2008, 2009 and 2010, 500 people in the Capitol Theatre. 2008, 2009 and 2010, I am proud “I’ve had a great partnership with “I hope you’ll call us because I do I am proud of the work of the work we have done and the the Ohio Chamber of Commerce want to hear from you,” she said. progress we have made in Ohio. and all chambers across Ohio.” “If you call with a problem, I would we have done and the I’m committed to implementing also like your feedback on how to fix the common-sense, conservative This business experience has progress we have made policies that benefit all of you, your served her well not only as our the problem. Status quo has never been acceptable to me.” business, our families and our state’s lieutenant governor, but in Ohio. communities across the state of also as she oversees the Ohio Taylor backed up her statement Ohio to make our state better for Chamber-backed Common Sense by giving out her phone number, future generations of Ohioans.” Initiative (CSI). Since its inception she told the audience she is making (614) 644-0935, and encouraged in 2012, all proposed state agency every minute count. attendees to call. rules that impact Ohio businesses “Regardless of what you do in life, must undergo an analysis and As she looks back on her past years make your time count,” Taylor be subject to review by the CSI as the state’s second in command,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

IT’S STILL JUST ME

However, his greatest accomplishment was arranging for Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress this past fall, something he’d been working on for 20 years. “It doesn’t get much better than the Pope,” he said. It was one of the highlights of his career, and the next day, he resigned from Congress. The biggest question on everyone’s mind, however, was what he thinks about this year’s presidential election. “Don’t ask me to make any sense out of this election season,” he said, although he did say he voted for Gov. John Kasich in the Ohio primary. He said he believes that if no one on the Republican side gets the required 1,237 delegates prior to the Republican Convention in July in Cleveland, and there is no majority consensus after the first vote at the convention, then anyone should be eligible for the party nomination. He closed the program by talking about what he sees in our nation today. “We have a healthy democracy,” he said. “We’ve got an economy that could be better, but it’s better than anything else we’ve got going. We have an environment around Ohio and the country that allows anyone to do anything they want to do — get an education, succeed in business, innovate, Attendees enjoyed our Legislative Reception etc. Our country allows you to climb a ladder as high as you want to climb. following the Annual Meeting. It’s the only country I know where a son of a bartender can grow up to be Speaker of the House.”

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By Samantha Cotten, Director, Public Policy Communications LEGISLATION OHIO CHAMBER INTRODUCED TO LAUNCHES MIDDLE- LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARKET TASK FORCE

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce The Chamber Partner MARIJUANA is partnering with Plante Moran to spearhead a program aimed at program will hold its first Earlier this year, an Ohio House providing a voice to Ohio’s middle- task force event 8 a.m. to Medical Marijuana Task Force was market companies. created to conduct extensive hearings 1 p.m. June 7, 2016, at the WHAT IS THE on the topic of legalizing marijuana MIDDLE MARKET? for medical purposes in Ohio. The task Boat House Restaurant The middle market is an economic force of 15 people was made up of three segment of businesses with gross in Columbus. state representatives and 12 public annual revenue between $10 members, including representatives million and $1 billion. There are The Ohio Chamber recently from law enforcement, the medical about 200,000 of these businesses partnered with The Ohio State community, marijuana legalization nationwide, which is approximately University’s National Center for advocates and business. Linda Hondros, the former chair of our board of 3 percent of U.S. businesses. These the Middle Market to help collect directors, was the Ohio Chamber’s representative on the task force. businesses employ more than data for the study, State of the The task force heard more than 23 hours of testimony from more than 100 one-third of the U.S. workforce and Middle Market in Ohio, which witnesses. Over the course of six hearings, a wide spectrum of individuals account for one-third of private helped define the needs of Ohio’s provided the committee with different perspectives on this difficult issue. sector GDP. If middle-market middle-market employers. This Medical experts, mothers of children with epilepsy, experts with experience companies were a country, they research, along with member input, in marijuana legalization from states such as California and Maryland would be the fifth-largest economy will guide task force meeting topics, and, most importantly, our member companies testified. in the world. The numbers are which will include technology, similar in Ohio — middle-market innovation, talent acquisition and Ohio Chamber members Charlie Conner, CEO of Alcon Tool Co., Mark companies employ 37 percent of succession planning, to name a few. Swepston, CEO of Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling, and Tom Secor, president Ohio’s workforce and account for of Durable Corp., testified before the task force. They detailed the safeguards $26 billion in annual revenue. HOW CAN MY BUSINESS needed to protect both employers and employees if medical marijuana is GET INVOLVED? legalized. These include workplace safety, human resource policy, drug HOW IS THE OHIO CHAMBER The Chamber Partner program will screening, workers’ compensation coverage and costs, unemployment HELPING MIDDLE-MARKET hold its first task force event 8 a.m. compensation and avoiding costly litigation. BUSINESSES? to 1 p.m. June 7, 2016, at the Boat It’s obvious that the middle market House Restaurant in Columbus. Phil Parker, president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, is important to the U.S. and Ohio We are partnering with Plante also testified on behalf of the greater business community. Parker laid out economies, but the specific needs Moran and Columbus 2020 for the the key concerns for employers and how to best protect businesses should of these businesses are often event that will focus on middle- medical marijuana become legal. The Ohio Chamber and our metro chamber overlooked. As a result, the Ohio market companies expanding partners are in no way endorsing medical marijuana; however, we adamantly Chamber is introducing our new internationally. Attendees will advocated that the legislature provide safeguards to the business community. Chamber Partner program to better hear remarks from industry experts on the current business climate As a result of the work of the task force, Reps. Steve Huffman, Kirk Schuring address the needs of our middle- market member companies. The overseas, and there will be a panel and Dan Ramos introduced House Bill 523, which would legalize medical discussion with business leaders marijuana and lay out a framework to govern its recommended use and Chamber Partner program is for middle-market companies that who have successfully expanded regulation by creating a Medical Marijuana Control Commission. The their business internationally. commission would include nine members, with one representative from the want to have a larger footprint on Ohio’s economic climate and The keynote speaker will be business community, and have broad authority to create rules governing and Lou Longo, consulting partner implementing the law. supply a collective voice in public policy discussions. at Plante Moran, who leads the The legislation would allow physicians to recommend medical marijuana to firm’s International Business patients in edible form, as plant matter and in oils or patches. Smoking is not Through the partner program, Consulting Services offices in included in the bill at this time but will be discussed through the committee middle-market members will have Chicago, Detroit, Shanghai, China, process. The growing, processing, testing and dispensing of medical the opportunity to participate in and Monterrey, Mexico. marijuana would be regulated through rules decided by the commission. an ongoing task force designed to help bring together middle-market To attend this meeting or learn Due to our efforts with the task force, HB 523 has many of the employer employers to discuss the needs more about upcoming middle- protections that were suggested in our testimony. The bill makes it clear that and challenges specific to this market events, contact Laz Picciano employers are not required to accommodate an employee’s use of medical business demographic. at (614) 228-4201 or lpicciano@ marijuana. It also specifies that an employer can discharge, refuse to hire, ohiochamber.com. or take adverse employment action against an employee who uses medical marijuana. If an employee is discharged for medical marijuana use, he or she would be ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits. HB 523 also outlines that legalizing medical marijuana would not change an employer’s ability to receive rebates or discounts from the Bureau of Workers’ Middle-market companies Compensation’s drug-free workplace program. have annual revenue of Again, the Ohio Chamber is not endorsing the legalization of medical marijuana. However, we believe that this difficult issue should be addressed in the legislature, not through a ballot initiative process that amends the Ohio Constitution. Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger says HB 523 will quickly move through the legislature, with the goal of having it on the governor’s desk by June. This expedited timetable is meant to discourage groups from $10 $1 continuing to amend the state’s constitution. However, two groups continue to push ballot initiatives to legalize medical marijuana. As of this writing, million billion they are continuing to collect signatures to get the issue on the ballot for this November’s election. The proposed amendments look vastly different from what the legislature is proposing through HB 523, and they do not provide the extensive protections to the business community that are included in HB 523. Approximately 10% of our members The Ohio Chamber will continue to update you on the progress of HB 523, are considered middle-market companies. as well as on the ballot initiatives, through Legislative Update and our allforohio.com blog.

4 SHARE SUCCESS.

By Samantha Cotten, Director, Public Policy Communications OSBC LEADS ON RULE RELIEF LEGISLATION

Endorsed candidates who were successful in the March primary attended the April 21 Public Affairs meeting. 2016 ELECTION: ANALYSIS & RECAP

ANALYSIS The possibility of Donald Trump at the top of the ticket has the potential to impact Republicans on the ballot in down-ticket races Members of the Ohio Small Tom Secor, president of Durable Corp., for federal, state and local seats. Some polling suggests that Trump Business Council (OSBC) have speaks at the press conference introducing will negatively impact a generic Republican ballot by as many as eight spearheaded ideas for legislation SB 303 and HB 503. Joining Secor are the bills’ sponsors, Rep. Mike Duffey and points. This “Trump Effect” could make races that are traditionally aimed at simplifying the process Sen. Joe Uecker. not in play competitive general elections. The effect will be most for implementing and reviewing evident in Ohio House and Senate races, but it could be a significant the government agency rules factor in the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. Rob Portman that regulate small businesses. • It adds new criteria to and his challenger, former Gov. Ted Strickland. This race could very As a result of input from OSBC potentially invalidate a rule if it well determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Anti-Trump members, state legislators recently is not reasonable or related to a voting, combined with Strickland’s name recognition (especially penned two pieces of legislation, cost incurred by the state agency. within Appalachia), makes it a difficult re-election bid, even for Senate Bill 303 and House Bill someone as widely popular as Portman. 503. These pieces of legislation All rule reviews are conducted by are companion bills, meaning the the Joint Committee on Agency language in each is nearly identical. Rule Review, whose primary It will be interesting to see how things play out Their purpose is to prevent state function is to review proposed new, agencies from overreaching by amended and rescinded rules to as the campaigns ramp up their efforts leading treating department policies, ensure they do not exceed the state into November. information releases, memos or agency’s rulemaking authority. other documents as if they are At a recent press conference to official rules. The political climate in 2016 is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime announce the introduction of SB occurrence. It will be interesting to see how things play out as the 303 and HB 503, OSBC member and campaigns ramp up their efforts leading into November. Durable Corp. President Tom Secor It expands the definition spoke regarding his experience RECAP of an adverse impact with a state agency. Secor described The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee a run-in his business experienced (OCCPAC) endorsed 13 candidates for the General Assembly, and on business to include with the Ohio EPA in the 1990s. all but two were victorious in their primary bids. Incumbent Rep. any rule that is likely to His business had been using scrap Tony Burkley came up short, losing to by a margin of tires as a raw material for certain 53 to 46 percent. Additionally, OCCPAC endorsed Middletown City reduce revenue or product lines, and he was unaware Councilman Joe Mulligan, who was defeated by first-time candidate that the Ohio EPA was going to Candice Keller by a margin of 59 to 40 percent in an open seat for the increase expenses. begin regulating the storage and 53rd House District. discarding of scrap tires. This new The primary also finalized the field of candidates for the always Additionally, the legislation regulation caused such a significant important Ohio Supreme Court contests. Pat Fischer, a judge on the contains five key objectives to negative impact on his business Ohio Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, defeated Colleen O’Toole by a protect businesses from costly that he ultimately had to lay off margin 54 to 46 percent for the Republican nomination to the Ohio and burdensome policies. dozens of employees. If SB 303 or HB 503 had been in place at the Supreme Court. The seat is being vacated by retiring Justice Judith • It prevents a state agency time, the accelerated five-year Lanzinger. Fischer will go on to face Democrat John O’Donnell in the from improperly creating a rule review provision would have general election. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor will be unopposed rule through policy, instead allowed for the possibility of the in November as she seeks a final term. Two other Appeals Court of through the formal rule- destructive rule being repealed. judges, Republican Pat DeWine of Cincinnati and Judge Cynthia Rice making process. of Warren, will square off for the right to replace term-limited We will continue to be involved as Justice Paul Pfeiffer. • It requires that any external the legislation advances through the document referenced within General Assembly. If you would like On the federal side, businessman Warren Davidson won the GOP a rule be available at no cost to to be involved in this process, or have mega-primary to replace former Speaker John Boehner in the 8th the requester. an experience with a state agency Congressional District. The special election will take place June 7. to share, contact Brandon Ogden There were no surprises in former Gov. Strickland’s primary for U.S. • It expands the definition of at [email protected] Senate. He defeated both Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld and an adverse impact on business to become involved with the Kelli Prather with 65 percent of the vote. Strickland’s victory sets up to include any rule that is Ohio Chamber’s OSBC. what is likely to be one of the most competitive general elections in likely to reduce revenue or the U.S. Senate with incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (also victorious in increase expenses. his primary). • It allows rules to be reviewed in between the current five-year review period if a rule is deemed to have an unforeseen negative impact on business.

WWW.OHIOCHAMBER.COM 5 MAY/JUNE 2016

James B. Yates, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP and Sarah E. Pawlicki, Esq. SPHR, SHRM-SCP DESPITE RECENT BALLOT DEFEAT, LEGALIZED MARIJUANA SHOULD STILL BE HIGH ON THE LIST OF EMPLOYER CONCERNS

Despite the overwhelming defeat of Issue 3 in November 2015, new efforts to legalize marijuana in Ohio have quickly materialized in the form of new ballot initiatives and proposed legislation. The language of two different ballot initiatives has already been certified by the Ohio Ballot Board. Both of those initiatives would allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and provide constitutional protections to medical marijuana users, growers and processors. One of the initiatives also includes a constitutional right to grow and process industrial hemp. House Bill 523 was recently introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio. If any of these initiatives pass, Ohio would become the 26th state (in addition to the District of Columbia) to legalize medical marijuana. It appears that the proposed legislation will move quickly in an effort to blunt the more expansive ballot initiatives. HB 523 contains some level of protection for Ohio employers. HB 523 provides that employers are not required to accommodate an employee’s use of medical marijuana. Moreover, under the proposed legislation, employers can still maintain drug-free workplaces and drug testing programs and would not be It remains to be seen whether Ohio will be added to the prohibited from refusing to hire or discharging employees because of marijuana use or positive drug tests. Additionally, discharge for using ever-growing list of states that legalize marijuana for marijuana would constitute just cause for the purposes of denying medical or recreational use. unemployment benefits. This last provision is certainly an improvement for Ohio employers over the manner in which Michigan unemployment benefits have been awarded. Because marijuana remains a Schedule I illegal drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the passage of legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana in other states has not affected an employer’s right to prohibit employees from reporting to work under the influence THANK YOU of marijuana or testing positive for marijuana metabolites. However, the law in this area is rapidly evolving as the courts interpret recently TO THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING & passed state laws and federal legislators seek modifications to existing LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION SPONSORS law. In a Colorado case, Coats v. Dish Network, an employee was discharged after a positive drug screen revealed his use of marijuana, which was prescribed for medical reasons. Colorado’s law legalizing marijuana specifically states that employers are not required to modify PRESENTING SPONSOR Manufacturers’ Education their drug-free workplace policies to accommodate employee drug use. AEP Ohio Council Nonetheless, the employee argued that the company did not prove that he was “impaired” at work, despite testing positive, and therefore he Ohio Farm Bureau could not have been lawfully terminated under another Colorado statute CHAMBER CHAMPIONS prohibiting the termination of an employee for engaging in lawful Alcoa GOLD activities outside of work. The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the employee’s termination because marijuana is still illegal under federal American Electric Power Altria law and, therefore, the employee was not engaged in “lawful activities.” The Andersons Some states specifically prohibit employers from terminating employees Anthem SILVER for lawful marijuana use. These are the types of issues employers will AT&T Squire Patton Boggs continue to face as courts and legislators balance the right of employers to create and enforce reasonable work rules against marijuana use with CareWorks employee use of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. CareWorksComp BRONZE Closer to home, in Casias v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the Sixth Circuit Chesapeake Energy Ford Motor Co. Court of Appeals issued a decision interpreting Michigan’s medical Columbia Gas of Ohio Glatfelter marijuana statute and held that Michigan’s statute does not prohibit Commercial Vehicle Group Park National Bank employers from terminating employees under an employer’s drug- Dayton Power & Light State and Federal free workplace policy — even if the employee is using marijuana pursuant to a lawfully obtained medical marijuana card. The court Dynegy Communications Inc. reasoned that Michigan’s statute did not apply to private employers. FirstEnergy Corp. However, a Michigan state court of appeals ruled that an employee Grange Insurance Companies MEDALLION terminated for violating an employer’s drug testing policy was still entitled to unemployment compensation. That court reasoned that Gulfport Energy Corp. Aqua Ohio Michigan’s medical marijuana statute restricted the government from Marathon Petroleum Co. Delta Dental Plan of Ohio penalizing lawful medical marijuana users and, because unemployment Mercy Health Dominion East Ohio compensation was a government benefit, the denial of that benefit was Nationwide Insurance Hicks Partners prohibited even though the termination of the employee by the private employer was lawful. Northeast Ohio Medical Lagos & Lagos LLP University McDonald Hopkins It remains to be seen whether Ohio will be added to the ever-growing list of states that legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use. In any Petland Reliable Staffing event, now is a good time for Ohio employers to review and revise their Plante and Moran PLLC TreeHaus Co. drug testing policies and procedures to address the potential impact of Squire Patton Boggs LLP legalized marijuana in their workplaces. The Strategy Group Co. PARTNER James Yates and Sarah Pawlicki are members in Eastman & Smith Time Warner Cable CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Ltd.’s Labor and Employment group and are both Senior Professionals in Zaino Hall & Farrin Advising Services Human Resources (SPHRs) and SHRM Professionals Senior Certified (SHRM-SCPs). Between them, they have more than 35 years of experience Campbell Soup Supply Co. LLC partnering with human resource professionals to make workplaces PLATINUM FrontPath Health Coalition better (and legally compliant). They can be reached at (419)241-6000 Duke Energy OhioHealth or [email protected] and [email protected].

6 STAY CONNECTED.

THE OHIO CHAMBER 2. IN ACTION 1. Photos from left to right:

1. OSBC member Charlie Connor testifying in front of the Medical Marijuana Task Force.

2. Public Affairs Committee

3. OSBC committee

3.

COMMITTEES IN ACTION

See how the Ohio Chamber is Important Legislation: EMPLOYMENT LAW Recent Work: HB 343 – Repealing working to help your business. • HB 387 – Would raise the small Last Meeting: March 2015 the employment services tax claims court maximum from Next Meeting: Key Speakers: Sen. Bob Peterson Learn how to get involved. $3,000 to $6,000, allowing the June 9, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. and Rep. Jeff McClain regarding the expedited system to be utilized in Contact: Don Boyd – 2020 Tax Commission more cases [email protected] HEALTH CARE Important Legislation / Issues: Last Meeting: December 2015 • HB 394 – Comprehensive changes Recent Work: • HB 343 – Repealing the Next Meeting: TBD to fix the broken unemployment • SB 268 – Employment Law employment services tax Contact: Keith Lake – compensation system in Ohio Uniformity Act [email protected] • SB 264 – Establishes the weekend - See allforohio.com for more beginning on the first Friday PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Recent Work: details on this legislation. in August as a sales tax holiday April 2016 Ohio Drug Price Relief Act Last Meeting: • HB 394 – Structural fixes for purchases up to $75 for June 22, 2016 – • Committee voted to oppose the act Next Meetings: to the unemployment clothing and up to $20 for school The meeting will feature candidates • For more information on the compensation system instructional materials from the Ohio Supreme Court. Drug Price Relief Act, visit our • Aug. 30, 2016 – Campaign - Visit ohiochamber.com and • SB 288 – Reduces the withholding blog, allforohio.com updates from party leaders allforohio.com for more details. tax rate on the business income of Key Speakers: Kevin Orr, Pfizer; • Sept. 21, 2016 – Chamber Choice Important Legislation: owners, shareholders and partners Jenny Camper on behalf of PhRMA endorsed candidate reception • HB 355 – Employee of pass-through entities Important Legislation: Contact: Keith Lake – misclassification • HB 466 – Exempts digital • HB 248 [email protected] • SB 301 – Pregnancy Reasonable advertising services from sales tax • HB 350 – Autism health care Recent Work: Accommodation Act • 2020 Tax Commission coverage mandate Endorsements • HB 511/SB 307 – Paid Family • Providing testimony and - Increases small employer health • After the successful endorsement and Medical Leave recommendations to the insurance premiums and limits of primary candidates for commission regarding tax policy the General Assembly, the their plan design options by WORKERS’ COMPENSATION committee heard from six open forcing health insurers to include Last Meeting: December 2016 EDUCATION AND seat candidates that won their coverage for the screening, Next Meeting: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT March 15 primary elections. diagnosis and treatment of June 30, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Last Meeting: March 2016 autism spectrum disorder in all Key Speakers: Wes Goodman, Contact: Don Boyd – Next Meeting: TBD grandfathered plans and group , , [email protected] Contact: Dan Navin- plans offered to employers with , Recent Work: [email protected] more than 50 employees. BWC policy changes, such as other Key Speakers: - The Ohio Chamber has testified ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT states’ coverage and successor Doug Lumpkin, director of the in opposition to both bills and Last Meeting: March 2016 liability; BWC rate reduction Ohio Department of Job and Family is meeting with lawmakers Next Meeting: May 4, 2016 – Important Legislation: Services (ODJFS), outlined the The meeting will cover energy individually to express its concerns. • SB 5 – Increases workers’ department’s plans for launching the mandates and the extension of the compensation costs by, for the Comprehensive Case Management current freeze. OSBC first time, eliminating the physical & Employment Program. Contact: Keith Lake – Last Meeting: April 2016 injury requirement for workers’ Important Legislation: July 13, 2016 [email protected] Next Meeting: compensation eligibility for a • HB 474 – Higher education mid- Brandon Ogden – Overview of major Contact: Recent Work: specific category of workers biennium review bill (MBR) [email protected] air rules pending in court that could • HB 207 – Subrogated claims • HB 383 – Requires a one semester/ impact Ohio businesses Recent Work: involving motor vehicle accidents one-half credit of financial literacy HB 503/SB 503 Rep. Tim Schaffer, Key Speakers: caused by a third party course/instruction for high Chair of the House Public Utilities • OSBC lead to have this legislation • HB 355 – Employee school graduation Committee; Sen. , Chair introduced misclassification of the Senate Public Utilities • See OSBC Leads on Rule Relief Committee; Bob Hodanbosi, Legislation in this edition Chief of the Division of Air Pollution TAXATION AND PUBLIC for details. Protection, Ohio EPA EXPENDITURES Last Meeting: April 2016 Key Speakers: HB 176 Important Legislation: Next Meeting: TBD Sen. Joe Uecker, Sponsor of SB 303; , candidate for the 62nd Contact: Dan Navin – House District [email protected]

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As I was listening to former U.S. getting 100 times more information available in our state. Because of Speaker of the House John Boehner about government than they ever have our reputation as the voice of Ohio’s speak at our Annual Meeting about before, and not all of it is true. business, chamber member and past how it has gotten harder and harder chair of our board of directors, Linda He said, “There are some politicians to get things done in Washington, Hondros, CEO of Hondros Family of that use social media avenues for their D.C., I couldn’t help but think about Companies, was appointed to the task own political purposes and with their the work the Ohio Chamber does to force to represent the concerns of own version of truth. This massive build compromise and collaboration the business community. In addition, amount of information is pushing to achieve our goals. One thing the many of our members testified in or pulling people to the left or right, former speaker said really struck front of the task force about the leaving fewer and fewer people in me — “A leader without followers is problems that legalization presents the middle.” Thus, less and less is simply a person out taking a walk.” to employers when it comes to getting done. worker safety. The former speaker spoke candidly At the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, about the changes he saw in the House Because we have a 123-year history we represent businesses of all sizes, from when he started in 1991 to what of garnering respect at the Statehouse, in all areas of commerce, from all it is like today. According to Boehner, the concerns our members voiced areas of the state. Sometimes we have there has been an increasing lack of during the task force hearings were members on both sides of an issue. reaching across the aisle, and even heard and included in the legislation. What may be good for one company working within one’s own party has It’s because of our collaboration that may not be good for another. That’s become a challenge. the proposed legislation included when we have to consider what is best employer protections, and we will He attributed the difference between for the state’s business community continue to advocate that those then and now to the explosion of as a whole. protections stay in the bill. We hope media. In 1996, there was one talk Sometimes we also find ourselves that by working together, the final radio host. Now there are dozens, all weighing in on controversial social legislation will be something that all trying to get their voices heard by issues that would impact Ohio’s Ohioans can live with. talking louder than the next one, and businesses. Case in point is the many “stir things up unnecessarily.” It’s very gratifying when hard work newly introduced medical marijuana In 1991, there was one cable news allows both sides to come together legislation. We led the campaign to network that broadcast the news for the benefit of the whole. I can only defeat recreational marijuana in 24/7. Now there are several, which hope those in Washington will do November 2015. Earlier this year, the seem to cover politics more than the same. Ohio House put together a special news. Finally, the explosion of social task force to discuss the possibility media has really been a game changer. of making medical marijuana Boehner said the American people are

EDITORIAL POLICY POSTMASTER OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Articles written by guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the Please send address changes to Ohio 230 East Town Street Ohio Matters is published by position of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s position on Matters, Attn: Database Manager, Ohio Columbus, Ohio 43215-0159 Convero (formerly SBN Interactive) key issues will be clearly stated. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce does Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 15159, 614.228.4201 • 800.622.1893 835 Sharon Drive, Suite 200 not necessarily endorse the products and services advertised in Ohio Columbus, Ohio 43215-0159. Fax 614.228.6403 Cleveland, OH 44145 Matters. Articles can be reproduced, but only with permission from, and [email protected] 844-428-8844 • www.converoinc.com attribution given to, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. For authorization, FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT www.ohiochamber.com Laura Green, Managing Editor please contact Ohio Chamber Vice President of Communications Julie Julie Wagner Feasel www.ohiobusinessvotes.org Erin Walker, Account Manager Wagner Feasel at 614.228.4201. The Chamber reserves the right to Vice President of Communications Lori Smith, Art Director reject advertising based on content and does not accept advertising [email protected] that is in conflict with a position of the Chamber. Kristy Amy, Advertising Sales 440.250.7011 • [email protected] Ohio Matters is a bimonthly publication for members of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Subscription cost is included with annual dues.

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