Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed nearly 30 bills into law on Wednesday, including legislation that would require schools to notify parents if a child identifies as LGBTQ+ and also allow parents to opt out of so-called “sexual” content. The Republican Party denies it is homophobic, saying it is simply a way for parents to get information.
State Reps. DJ Swearingen, R-Huron, and Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, introduced House Bill 8, which would require schools and teachers to notify parents of any changes in their child’s mental, physical or emotional state – including if they identify as LGBTQ+ .
“If you’re a parent, you want to be informed about what’s going on in your child’s life,” DeWine said. “Parents are the best teachers, the first teachers, the best teachers.”
Transgender support groups have been warning against this for over a year.
Only four Republicans voted against this legislation.
State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord, voted against the measure twice in the House.
“Passing legislation that could eliminate a child who is deeply questioning their place in the world — in my opinion — is just dangerous for those children and is really bad public policy,” Callender said during the lame duck session.
The legislation also includes a provision requiring public schools to allow children to miss classes to attend religious education classes.
“This is another step toward providing them with a diversity of options in a free land and the way parents want their children to be educated,” said Governor Jon Husted.
State Reps. Andrea White, R-Kettering, and Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, also voted no. State Sen. Bill Blessing, R-Colerain Township, was the only Republican senator to vote against the measure.
“It seems to me that the state is interfering with local control of the school board,” Callender said. “It is also a problem that the classes missed are most likely art and foreign languages.”
Civil rights activists tell me they plan to file a lawsuit.
Other bills
HB206
It would allow schools to extend expulsions for “immediate and serious threat.”
This includes bringing a gun or knife to school, committing a crime that causes harm to another person or property, making a bomb threat or any other written or verbal threat such as a hit list, manifesto or malicious social media post.
To be reinstated, a student must undergo a psychological evaluation. Even after an evaluation, a school superintendent may refuse to admit a student if he or she deems the student has not been sufficiently “rehabilitated.” From that point on, the superintendent may re-evaluate the student after 90 days. If they fail again, they could be kicked out of school for another 90 years – and that will continue.
HB322
Creates a grooming offense by prohibiting an adult from engaging in a “pattern of conduct” with a minor that would cause a “reasonable adult” to believe that the adult has “a purpose to lure, coerce, induce or groom the minor to engage in ‘sexual activity'” .
The offense will also be detected by a background check, meaning a coach fired for misconduct could be prevented from getting a job at another school.
HB531
This bill criminalizes sexual extortion.
If the offense results in bodily injury or death, the court may impose an additional 10 years.
This legislation provides victims with immunity for sending explicit photos.
The bill would also allow a parent or guardian to gain access to a phone or device belonging to a deceased minor within 30 days.
This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and are published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication on other news outlets because it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.
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