On Sept. 18, 2007, Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) reintroduced the STRS Ohio-proposed health care legislation. House Bill 315 is co-sponsored by Reps. Matthew Barrett (D-Amherst), Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Hts.), Edna Brown (D-Toledo), Kathleen Chandler (D-Kent), Steve Dyer (D-Green), Clyde Evans (R-Rio Grande), William Healy (D-Canton), Jim Hughes (R-Columbus), Matt Lundy (D-Elyria), Mark Okey (D-Carrollton), William Seitz (R-Cincinnati), Matt Szollosi (D-Oregon), Brian Williams (D-Akron) and Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights).

This bill carries with it the support of the Health Care Advocates for STRS (HCA) -- a coalition of major management, professional and retiree organizations representing Ohio's public K-12 and higher education teachers.  This member-driven initiative calls for increasing public teachers' contributions to STRS Ohio by 2.5% and their employers' contributions by 2.5% of teacher payroll to create an ongoing, dedicated revenue stream for the STRS Ohio Health Care Program for current and future retired educators.  These increases would be phased in over a five-year period, in .5% increments. Additional information about this funding initiative can be accessed at: http://www.strsoh.org/pdfs/44-951F_HC_INIT1-2.pdf

Rep. Oelslager previously introduced this legislation in mid-December 2006.  However, no action was taken on it before the General Assembly adjourned.  STRS Ohio is grateful to Rep. Oelslager and the 14 bill co-sponsors for their willingness to take this significant step to further the discussion about this critical issue.

This fall, members can contact their legislators, asking that they support hearings and continued discussion about this proposal.  Members are encouraged to continue to watch for e-mail updates, visit the STRS Ohio Web site (http://www.strsoh.org) and read STRS Ohio newsletters to keep abreast of th bill's progress.