Legal Eagle: Legislative Update

In Columbus:

The Columbus City Attorney's office is currently conducting a comprehensive revision of the city's criminal laws and related provisions for updating. This was at the instigation. of the city's Gay/Lesbian community. It is hoped that the resulting criminal code updating will eliminate obsolete "morals" provisions as well as create a "sexual orientation" provision in the employment section of the civil rights laws. The review should go into the summer.

In Ohio:

Lots of good news and some bad news from the General Assembly.

Good News:

The bill to permit transgender people to receive new birth certificates (Sub HB 750) was approved by the House Judiciary Committee last November and the Speaker of the House has agreed to call the bill for a vote by the recess at the end of April.

The bill to permit the withholding of child support payments if visitation rights are interfered with by the custodial parent (Am Sub HB 685) passed the House in March and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

At the suggestion of Gay activists, a bill to permit assignment of abused children to the custody of an agency (Sub HB 695) was rewritten by the sponsor and has a better definition of a parent's "mental disorder".

Hearings have begun in the Senate Judiciary Committee on SB 334 which will permit people who win civil actions to recover their attorney fees from the other party.

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill (Sub HB 812) which will require courts to take into account the impact of an offense on the victim before sentencing a defendant. Not only physical injury or property damage, but psychological impact and relationships with family will be considered.

A bill (HB 920) has been introduced to amend the 1978 domestic violence law to make it clear that any persons living together constitute a family or household for the purposes of the law. It is in the House Judiciary Committee.

Two bills (HB 933 and SB 340) have been introduced to set up complaint procedures for state employees who are victims of verbal or physical harassment from other state employees.

The bill to prohibit unfair election practices in campaigns for or against ballot issues passed the Senate and is waiting for a floor vote in the House (Am Sub SB 251).

And now the Bad News: It appears that the comprehensive probate code reform bills are dead for the session, since no hearings have been held on them.

Also apparently dead is the bill (HB 171) to eliminate the right of insurance companies to use sex or marital status as rating factors in automobile insurance

The House Judiciary Committee rewrote the housing courts bill so severely that it now only applies to the city of Cleveland.

Originally all courts in Ohio would have had a housing court established to enforce all municipal housing laws (including civil rights laws). The bill will take effect April 2, 1980 but is now worthless to the Gay/Lesbian community since Cleveland does not have a civil rights law

The comprehensive juvenile justice bill (SB 106) is still in a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee after more. than one year and apparently will not pass this session.

The bill to permit non-teachers to coach extra-curricular activities became law on March 14. A letter has been sent to the State Board of Education urging that they adopt a harmless definition of "good moral character" for the people hired. In Washington:

Letters have been going back and forth with the Bureau of the Census over its refusal to drop "immoral conduct" from its employment forms. The Chief of the Field Division acknowledges that they had no definition for the term and that the Civil Service Commission regulations no longer cover it, but for some reason wants to keep the clause. Pressure on the Bureau to drop the clause will be continued.

If you have any questions pertaining to your rights or the actions which are taking place in your state government or legislature please write them clearly and address them to: Legal Eagle

c/o OGRC Newsletter

P.O. Box 86

Fostoria, OH 44830

The Legal Eagle or OGRC do not make any claims in the information which is passed on to you and do not act as counselors. Legal issues change everyday with litigation or amendments to bills so we will do our best to keep you informed with current information. In all matters requiring the advice of an attorney you should seek competent legal advice.

Communications Workshop in Dayton A Huge Success

The Communication Workshop held in Dayton, Ohio on March 15 was declared a huge success. Attended by forty-two people the workshop, the first weekend affair sponsored by OGRC, attempted to make people aware of the communication around them. Communications games were played in the first. session in order to demonstrate the many ways people express themselves. These games were then applied to group situations where everyone attending had a chance to experience the people in their group by playing these games. The attempts to understand peoples' communication were valuable. They demonstrated the stumbling blocks we face as we try to find out what people are really saying when they talk to us. It was an excellent course in listening values and judgement situations.

The afternoon sessions allowed people to participate topics of theri own choice. Subjects ranged from medial communications, group situations helping services and personal communications.

Comments of those attending the Workshop were favourable. The only negative comments expressed were because of the lack of time to explore even further the skills which were learned.

As one person put it. "It's only the beginning. There is plenty more that we can explore on our own and be ready for the next Communication Workshop or just in everyday communications situations. OGRC is exploring the possibility of a Communications Workshop II.