COLUMBUS – Senate Democratic Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus today expressed great concern that the Ohio Senate went on a lengthy summer recess without passing critical legislation to protect Ohioans. Several bills introduced by Senate Democrats in the 128th General Assembly are caught in legislative limbo while Ohio’s citizens wait for help.
“It’s very disappointing that the Ohio Senate has largely ignored the foreclosure crisis affecting so many across our state,” said Senator Cafaro. “Senate Democrats are committed to doing all we can to help Ohioans keep their homes because it’s the right thing to do for Ohio families and because it’s good for our economy.”
It has been 350 days since the Judiciary-Civil Justice Committee passed Senate Bill 13 to require landlords to provide written notice to renters when their rental property goes into foreclosure. The entire Senate has never had an opportunity to vote on this common sense legislation or two other foreclosure bills the Ohio House passed more than a year ago. In fact, while the Senate passed 32 bills immediately before the summer recess, the Senate majority even failed to pass foreclosure legislation sponsored by its own members.
“The Senate should place the highest priority on addressing the ongoing foreclosure crisis,” said Senator Dale Miller (D-Cleveland), the sponsor of SB 13. “The problem has not gone away since I introduced my legislation last year.”
Despite strong bipartisan support, the Senate has also failed to pass legislation establishing a separate criminal offense for human trafficking. Senate Bill 235 has 25 co-sponsors but remains stuck in committee.
“Human trafficking is a modern day form of slavery that demands swift action by the Ohio Senate,” said Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo), a joint sponsor of SB 235. “Ohio lags behind 44 other states in strengthening our human trafficking laws. Unfortunately, we apparently will have to wait several months before we have the opportunity to vote on a bill.”
Other bills proposed by Senate Democrats to ban texting while driving (Senator Shirley Smith--SB 164), crack down on wage theft (Senator Sue Morano--SB 212) and prohibit hiring discrimination based on credit history (Senator Ray Miller--SB 91) also languish in committee while the Senate goes on a recess that could last until November.
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