Vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine

Highlights:

• Defines "public health state of emergency" as an emergency for which the governor has declared an emergency in response to a threat to the preservation of the life and health of the people of this state, including an air pollution emergency, an energy shortage emergency, and an adulterated consumer product emergency (Sec. 107.42).

• Authorizes the general assembly to do any of the following by adopting a concurrent resolution if the governor issues an executive order declaring a public health state of emergency (Sec. 1.A):

• Rescind any subsequent executive order the governor issues in response to a public health state of emergency, including an order to authorize an agency to adopt, amend, or rescind rules;

• Invalidate an emergency rule adopted or amended by an agency in response to the public health state of emergency and pursuant to an emergency order the governor issues;

• Authorize a rule rescinded by an agency; and

• Invalidate an emergency rule adopted by an agency in response to the public health state of emergency.

• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee. The committee shall consist of the following members (Sec. 103.65.A):

• 3 members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two of whom are members of the majority party and one of whom is a member of the minority party; and

• 3 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two of whom are members of the majority party and one of whom is a member of the minority party.

• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee has the power to do all of the following (Sec. 103.651.B-1):

• Oversee actions taken by the governor, the department of health, or any other agency during a public health state of emergency;

• Oversee the following actions taken by the department or the director of health: and

• Actions to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases; and

• Actions to investigate or make inquiry and to take prompt action to control and suppress the cause of disease or illness including contagious, infectious, epidemic, pandemic, or endemic conditions.

• Consult with and provide advice to the governor, the department, and other agencies regarding necessary and appropriate action during a public health state of emergency.

• Requires the day the governor declares a public health state of emergency, the governor and the Department of Health must promptly report to the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives every action the governor or department takes in response to the public health state of emergency, including actions by the department or director of health (Sec. 107.42).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the General Assembly to repeal the governor's state of emergency declarations regarding COVID-19.

Highlights:

• Defines "public health state of emergency" as an emergency for which the governor has declared an emergency in response to a threat to the preservation of the life and health of the people of this state, including an air pollution emergency, an energy shortage emergency, and an adulterated consumer product emergency (Sec. 107.42).

• Authorizes the general assembly to do any of the following by adopting a concurrent resolution if the governor issues an executive order declaring a public health state of emergency (Sec. 1.A):

• Rescind any subsequent executive order the governor issues in response to a public health state of emergency, including an order to authorize an agency to adopt, amend, or rescind rules;

• Invalidate an emergency rule adopted or amended by an agency in response to the public health state of emergency and pursuant to an emergency order the governor issues;

• Authorize a rule rescinded by an agency; and

• Invalidate an emergency rule adopted by an agency in response to the public health state of emergency.

• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee. The committee shall consist of the following members (Sec. 103.65.A):

• 3 members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two of whom are members of the majority party and one of whom is a member of the minority party; and

• 3 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two of whom are members of the majority party and one of whom is a member of the minority party.

• Establishes the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee has the power to do all of the following (Sec. 103.651.B-1):

• Oversee actions taken by the governor, the department of health, or any other agency during a public health state of emergency;

• Oversee the following actions taken by the department or the director of health: and

• Actions to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases; and

• Actions to investigate or make inquiry and to take prompt action to control and suppress the cause of disease or illness including contagious, infectious, epidemic, pandemic, or endemic conditions.

• Consult with and provide advice to the governor, the department, and other agencies regarding necessary and appropriate action during a public health state of emergency.

• Requires the day the governor declares a public health state of emergency, the governor and the Department of Health must promptly report to the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives every action the governor or department takes in response to the public health state of emergency, including actions by the department or director of health (Sec. 107.42).

Full Bill Text