Ohio PENDING LEGISLATION

1. Bill: Recognizing January 2021 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. S.R. No. 11;

Synopsis: In an effort to increase public knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding the enslavement and trafficking of humans beings, as well as to commemorate President Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and the United States Congress passing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the month of January was first designated by President Barack Obama as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in 2010, and President Donald Trump has continued this annual tradition by proclaiming National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2021.

2. Bill: Revise Address Confidentiality Program and recorder fees Sub. H. B. No. 93

Synopsis: To amend sections 111.42, 111.43, 111.45, 111.46, 111.48, 111.99, 149.43, 315.25, 317.13, 317.32, 319.28, 2303.12, and 5301.255 and to enact sections 111.431 and 321.25 of the Revised Code and to repeal Section 4 of S.B. 258 of the 134th General Assembly to make changes to the Address Confidentiality Program administered by the Secretary of State, to make changes to county recorder fees, to modify certain requirements for the 2022 primary election, and to declare an emergency. Certain provisions of the bill specifically address human trafficking.
Sponsor: Cindy Abrams, Jeff LaRe
Legislative History:
- Concurred in Senate amendments (House) – 1/26/22;
- Passed (Senate) – 1/26/22;
- Passed (House) – 2/25/21;
- Introduced – 2/9/21.
Last Action/Status: Passed - January 26, 2022; Effective 4/29/22. Emergency: Sections 3 and 4 effective January 28, 2022.

3. Bill: Regards age-appropriate child sexual abuse instruction Am. H. B. No. 105

Synopsis: To amend sections 3313.60 and 3319.073 and to enact sections 3314.0310 and 3326.091 of the Revised Code with respect to age-appropriate student instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention. In particular, each board shall incorporate training in school safety and violence prevention, including human trafficking content, into the in-service training required by division (A) of this section.
Sponsor: P. Scott Lipps, Brigid Kelly
Legislative History:
- Refer to Committee (Senate) – 6/16/22;
- Passed (House) – 6/10/21;
- Reported - Amended (House) – 5/26/21;
- Refer to Committee (House) – 2/17/21;
- Introduced – 2/10/21.
Last Action/Status: In Committee (Refer to Committee (Senate) – 6/16/22)

4. Bill: Regards criminal sentencing and corrections H. B. No. 166

Synopsis: To amend sections 181.21, 2152.13, 2152.14, 2901.011, 2929.01, 2929.14, 2929.144, 2929.19, 2929.20, 2930.16, 2945.37, 2945.401, 2949.08, 2951.03, 2953.07, 2953.08, 2967.14, 2967.191, 2967.193, 2967.271, 5120.021, 5120.038, 5120.113, 5120.66, and 5149.04 and to enact section 181.26 of the Revised Code to modify the Criminal Sentencing Law with respect to non-life felony indefinite sentencing, to modify the process for felony appeals as a matter of right, to modify the Corrections Law regarding a Department of Rehabilitation and Correction reentry program for certain offenders, maximum workload and caseload standards for parole and field officers, GPS monitoring of offenders released from prison, and entry into LEADS of specified information about GPS-monitored offenders, and to require the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission to appoint an Offender Supervision Study Committee. In particular, the definition of human trafficking is amended.
Sponsor: Boggs, Carfagna
Legislative History:
- Third Hearing – February 3, 2022
- Second Hearing – September 30, 2021
- First Hearing – April 15, 2021
- Introduced and Referred to Committee (House) – 3/2/21.
Last Action/Status: In Committee (Third Hearing – February 3, 2022)5. Bill: Enact Expanding Human Trafficking Justice Act H. B. No. 319; Enact Expanding Human

5. Bill: Enact Expanding Human Trafficking Justice Act H. B. No. 319; Enact Expanding HumanTrafficking Justice Act S. B. No. 183

Synopsis: To amend section 2953.38 of the Revised Code to allow a victim of human trafficking to expunge certain criminal records and to name this act the Expanding Human Trafficking Justice Act.
Sponsor: Fedor, Kunze
Legislative History:
- Referred to Committee (Senate) – 5/26/21.
- Introduced (Senate) – 5/19/21.
Last Action/Status: In Committee (4 th Hearing - December 7, 2021)

6. Bill: Require sex assault exam kits for trafficking in persons cases H. B. No. 390

Synopsis: To amend section 2933.82 of the Revised Code to require governmental evidence- retention entities to secure and test sexual assault examination kits in relation to an investigation or prosecution of trafficking in persons.
Sponsor: Lanese, John
Legislative History:
- Referred to Committee (House) – 9/21/21.
- Introduced (House) – 8/18/21.
Last Action/Status: In Committee (1st Hearing - October 26, 2021)

7. Bill: Prohibit manipulation of controlled substance addiction H. B. No. 427

Synopsis: To amend sections 2905.32 and 2907.21 of the Revised Code to prohibit the use of a controlled substance or manipulation of controlled substance addiction as a method of human trafficking or to compel prostitution.
Sponsor: White, Manchester
Legislative History:
- Referred to Committee (House) – 9/22/21.
- Introduced (House) – 9/20/21.
- Last Action/Status: In Committee (4th Hearing - February 3, 2022)