H.B. 7 – Green Building - Sponsored by Representative Marian Harris (D-Columbus) and Connie Pillich (D- Montgomery) Introduced 2/17/09. To require a building or structure erected or constructed using state capital moneys to adhere to certain sustainability standards. The building or structure shall be certified as meeting at least the silver standard of the leadership in energy and environmental design green building rating system.

H.B. 37 – Non-Responsible Bidder Database and Investigation - Sponsored by Representative Stephen Dyer (D-Green) Introduced 2/17/09. To require the Department of Administrative Services to maintain a web site database including apparent low bidders who failed to be awarded a contract because they were found not to be "responsible," and to require public entities to conduct investigations when apparent low bidders are suspected of failing or fail to meet the "responsible" prong of the "responsive and responsible" competitive bidding threshold.

H.B. 62 – Contractor Licensing Waiver for Former Military Personnel - Sponsored by Representative Raymond Pryor (D-Chillicothe)  Introduced 3/4/09.  To require relevant military experience to be considered by state licensing boards and agencies and by private state contractors and to provide a waiver of a licensure or certification fee if a veteran is within six months of separation from active military duty

H.B. 184 - E-Verify - Sponsored by Representative Combs. Introduced 5/1/2009.  Require employers to register and participate in a status verification system to verify the work eligibility status of all new employees and to affirm their participation on their state income tax returns, to specify that an employer's failure to affirm their participation in the status verification system on their state income tax returns constitutes falsification or dereliction of duty, to require public agencies to cancel contracts with private employers who do not participate in a status verification system, to require jail officials to make a reasonable effort to verify the citizenship of confined persons, to collect electronic fingerprints of illegal aliens, and to notify the United States Department of Homeland Security in certain circumstances, to prohibit political subdivisions from restricting communication and cooperation with federal officials regarding a person's citizenship status, to require judges and magistrates to consider immigration status and other factors in determining a defendant's bail.

S.C.R. 2 - Opposing Employee Free Choice Act - Cosponsored by Senators Seitz, Schuring, Faber, Buehrer, Schuler

• Senate Concurrent Resolution to urge the Congress in Washington D.C. to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act or “Card Check”
• RESOLVED, That the Ohio Senate (the House of Representatives concurring) finds that so-called "card check" legislation such as the "Employee Free Choice Act" is detrimental to the rights of Ohio workers and an offense against democratic principles, and urges all members of the Ohio Congressional delegation to support worker freedom by opposing the EFCA and any of its components in 2009 and in future years; and be it further.

   

S.B. 17 – Compensatory Time Off - Sponsored by Senator Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls)  Introduced 2/10/09.  To afford to private sector employers the option to offer and to employees the option to accrue and use compensatory time off. 

S.B. 35 - Immigration Law Enforcement - Sponsored by Senator Jimmy Stewart (R-Athens)  Introduced 2/10/09.  To direct the Attorney General to pursue a memorandum of agreement that permits the enforcement of federal immigration laws in this state by law enforcement officers.