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Category: Current Issues

Here is a compendium of current issues that affect Ohio’s public entities, plus McGown & Markling news of note.

REMINDER: Temporary Educator Licenses Available on April 6, 2023!

On April 6, 2023, the Ohio Department of Education (“ODE”) will issue a nonrenewable, two-year temporary educator license to an individual with an expired professional teacher’s certificate or a professional educator license pursuant to H.B. 554. To qualify, an individual cannot have any disciplinary sanctions on the expired certificate or license. A temporary license is […]

Governor Signs Executive Order on Reading Proficiency for Ohio Children

On March 23, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2023-07D, a measure to create the Governor’s Literacy Challenge designed to improve reading proficiency for Ohio children. To read this executive order, please click here. Authors: Matthew John Markling and the McGown & Markling Team. Note: This blog entry does not constitute – nor […]

2023 Sunshine Laws Manual Released

The Ohio Attorney General has released the 2023 Sunshine Laws Manual, also known as the “Yellow Book,” which serves as a guide on the rights and responsibilities of public officials and citizens under Ohio’s Sunshine Laws — i.e., the Public Records and Open Meetings Acts. The Sunshine Laws give Ohio citizens a right to access […]

McGown & Markling Celebrates Sunshine Week: March 12-18, 2023

McGown & Markling represents political subdivisions and public officials throughout the State of Ohio and, frankly, we have been blessed to have clients who are dedicated to fully complying with the Ohio Sunshine Laws: The Ohio Public Records Act and The Ohio Open Meetings Act. Open and transparent government is the cornerstone of our democracy […]

When Can a Private Party Donate to a Public Agency?

On March 9, 2023, the Ohio Ethics Commission has issued an advisory opinion which concludes that public agencies may accept gifts or payments from vendors, provided that no agency officials or employees receive any personal benefit from the donation. This opinion outlines when Ohio ethics law prohibits a donation to a public agency and clarifies […]

SERB 2022 Wage Settlement Report – Now Available!

On March 1, 2023, the State Employment Relations Board (“SERB”) released its 2022 Wage Settlement Report, which provides a detailed look at the across-the-board wage increase percentage and other monetary incentives negotiated in public sector labor contracts (collective bargaining agreements) that took effect in the calendar year 2022. To view the 2022 Wage Settlement Report, […]

The Ohio Ethics Commission – The Voice of Ethics – 2023 Quarter 1

The Ohio Ethics Commission just published its newest newsletter, “The Voice of Ethics,” which can be viewed here. Past newsletters from the Ohio Ethics Commission can be viewed here. McGown & Markling is often asked to opine on various ethics issues, but the best ethics advice comes straight from the Ohio Ethics Commission itself. To request an […]

UPDATED: Seven to Ten-Month Public Record Response Deemed Unreasonable

In the case of Morrison v. Starr, 2023-Ohio-425, a special master concluded that a city’s seven-month delay in acknowledging receipt of a public record request and ten-month delay in producing the requested records were both well beyond a “reasonable period of time” in violation of R.C. 149.43(B)(1). While the special master explained that, whether a […]