The Republican lawmaker behind the sweeping higher education bill is not interested in meeting with House Speaker Jason Stephens about his bill, saying there is “no point in wasting time.”
Senate Bill No. 83 no movement has been seen since it was passed by the House Higher Education Committee a few weeks before Christmas. On Wednesday, the House held its last session before the summer break, but the bill was not on the agenda or put to a vote as an amendment.
“I was disappointed that (SB 83) was not included (on the House agenda).” Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, said during a news conference Wednesday.
He said he heard from A a “credible third party” that Stephens wants to meet Cirino in the summer to discuss the bill, but Cirino said he was not interested. He did not say who the person was, but clarified that it was not a legislator.
“Honestly, I just don’t think it would be productive.” – said Cirino. “I value my time and the time of my employees, but we have other things to work on. I think we’ll just put it aside for a while, think about it and come back to it in due time. … I would be negotiating with myself because we have already made a number of concessions over the last 12 months to gain support in the House.”
SB 83 has already undergone nearly a dozen amendments.
Cirino said he already had an hour-long meeting with Stephens in December to discuss details of the bill and sent Stephens 13 text messages related to SB 83 between December and April but never received a response.
“I have not received information that the bill contains any specific issues with which the speaker is dissatisfied, I have not received anything at all.” – said Cirino. “Absolutely zero input. Ohio needs higher education reform, and the time to show leadership on this bill in the House has come and gone.”
What’s in SB 83?
SB 83 was introduced last spring and quickly passed the Senate, about two months after it was introduced last year.
This would prohibit mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training unless required to meet state and federal law, professional licensing requirements, or to receive accreditation or grants.
The retrenchment provision would prevent unions from negotiating employment, and universities could fire tenured professors for a number of reasons, including reduced student numbers. However, lecturers with 30-35 years of service would be protected.
SB 83 defines controversial beliefs or policies as “any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate policy, electoral policy, foreign policy, diversity, equality and integration agendas, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.”
The bill would allow students to “draw their own conclusions about any controversial beliefs or policies and would not seek to indoctrinate any social, political or religious viewpoint.”
Cirino acknowledged that his bill would likely pass if the negotiation provisions were removed, but said it was a key element of the bill.
“It’s like saying if you take the heart out of a patient, the patient will be OK,” he said. “It becomes a much less important bill.”
What will happen next with SB 83?
Cirino said she wanted to wait “a more favorable environment in the House” – such as the fact that Senate President Matt Huffman became the next Speaker of the House – before bringing SB 83 back up for discussion.
Cirino said she heard enough votes from the House of Representatives to pass his bill. If SB 83 is not passed at the end of the General Meeting, Cirino said he would reintroduce the bill next year.
“If there’s a lame duck, the bill will probably be the same as today,” he said. “If it starts over in the new (General Assembly), all bets are off and the bill will look different than it does today.”
The provision banning strikes was removed from SB 83, but Cirino said he is considering potentially putting it back in the bill if they were to reintroduce it next year.
“I’m working on the strategies and options we have if we need to transition to the next general Assembly,” Cirino said.
Gov. Mike DeWine recently said he would sign SB 83 into law if it passes further changes, but he did not specify what changes he expected.
When asked about this, Cirino said he spoke with DeWine, as well as his staff about some of his concerns about the bill – particularly regarding the length of terms of office for the university’s board of trustees. An amendment to SB 83 introduced last year would have shortened a trustee’s term from nine to four had the bill passed.
“I think that comment was made without realizing that the changes they were asking for late last year were already in the bill,” Cirino said. “…I’ve been told by the governor’s office that he’s pleased with the bill today.”
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