New bills

FEDERAL
US SB 1254	Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. VOINOVICH, and Mr. HARKIN)	Government Pension Offset Reform Act	To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the reductions in social security benefits which are required in the case of spouses and surviving spouses who are also receiving certain government pensions shall be equal to the amount by which two-thirds of the total amount of the combined monthly benefit (before reduction) and monthly pension exceeds $1,200, adjusted for inflation.
S 206 & HR82		WEP/GPO Repeal	Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security (ORTA has written to the Senate Finance Committee) Would repeal GPO?WEP which reduces one's spouse's benefits and may eliminate spouse's benefit as a widow/er
STATE
HB315	Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, Matt Lundy, D-Elyria, K enny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, Matthew Barrett, D-Amherst,Clyde Evans, R-Rio Grande, William Healy, D-Canton, Mark Okey, D-Carrollton, William Seitz, R-Cincinnati, Marr Szollosi, D-Oregon, Jim Hughes, R-Columbus, Edna Brown, D-Toledo, Brian Williams, D-Akron, Kathleen Chandler, D-Kent,Barbara Boyd, D-Cleveland Heights, Steve Dyer, D-Green	STRS Health Care	REFERRED TO COMMITTEE (9/27/2007) Financial Institutions, Real Estate & Securities INTRODUCED (9/18/2007) No other action.
HB 270	Sponsor: Schneider; Co-sponsors: Adams, Latta, Fessler, J. McGregor, Setzer, Webster, Collier	Pensioneer Re-employment	Amends sections of the Revised Code to provide that a member of PERS, OPFP, STRS, or SERS who retires and then returns to public employment in the same position will not receive a pension while earning a salary for that employment. Introduced 6-19-07. Last hearing April 30, 2008 (Amendments Recommended)
HB 240	Goodwin	Re-employed Retirees	Caps the salary for a rehired retiree Last hearing on this bill was October 23, 2007
SB 148	Faber	SERS Eligibility	SERS retirement eligibility requirement changes would apply only to new members to address potential financial problems brought on by better health and longer life spans. Current members would not be affected. Full retirement would be possible at age 55 and after 30 years of service under the new plan. Retirement would be possible at age 62 with at least 10 years service or age 60 with 25 years service with a new schedule to reduce benefits for those with fewer than 30 years of service. Signed by the governor on February 13, 2008. Passed 88-2
HB 186	Skindell	Universal Health Care	To establish and operate the Ohio Health Care Plan to provide Universal Health Care coverage to all Ohio residents. Last hearing on this bill was May 178, 2007.
HB 148	Wachtmann	Alternative Health Care	Regarding the provision of complementary or alternative health care services. Last hearing on this bill was October 23, 2007.
HB 152 replaces HB 700	Widener	Retirement Plans	To require school boards to establish alternative retirement plans for teachers and school employees. Last hearing on this bill was on September 12, 2007. The bill was recommended for defeat. Please contact legislators.
SB 141 Updated 1-21-08	Padgett	Community School Sponsors	SB141 (Padgett) Community School Accountability: Paolo De Maria, ODE Associate Superintendent for the Center for School Options and Finance, presented sponsor testimony and summarized the current status of community schools in Ohio. According to his testimony there are 65 sponsors who oversee 324 community schools educating more than 80,000 students. The Ohio Department of Education has authority over those sponsors approved after April 3, 2003. Among other provisions, this legislation would make clear the ODE's authority over all sponsors, and clarify other provisions in law regarding community schools.Makes changes in the law regarding the approval of community school sponsors. The last hearing on this bill was February 5, 2008.
SB 3	Faber	State Pension Restrictions	Passed by the Governor on May 13, 2008. It included authority for the Inspector General to investigate the Attorney General's office. To provide that the privilege of holding a position of honor, trust or profit that is forfeited by reason of conviction of a felony is not restored on completion of a prison term, period of community control sanctions or pardon or release by the Adult Parole Authority and to provide that the office holder will forfeit the portion of any state retirement benefit that is based on employer contributions.
HB433	Zehringer, R-Ft. Recovery		Exempts the first $10,000 of state or federal pension income from Ohio's income tax...phases in over three years. Last hearing April 9, 2008
SB 331 & SB 332	Roberts D-Trotwood	Charter Schools	Addresses charter school evaluations and records.