Here is a compendium of current issues that affect Ohio’s public entities, plus McGown & Markling news of note.
On April 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education posted for public comment a proposal to amend Title IX regulations that would set out a standard governing the adoption or application of sex-related criteria that would limit or deny a student’s eligibility to participate on athletic teams consistent with their gender identity. The proposed regulation […]
On April 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education issued a new proposed regulation on Title IX, as well as a related fact sheet. The proposed rule would affect the rights of transgender students to participate on athletic teams that align with their gender identity. Please note that is a proposal, which has not gone […]
Effective April 7, 2023, H.B. 45 allows a school district, community school, STEM school, or chartered nonpublic school to conduct a raffle to raise money for the school district or school without obtaining a bingo license. As an aside, R.C. 2915.01 defines a “raffle” as “a form of bingo in which the one or more […]
Effective April 3, 2023, H.B. 353 entitled, “The Testing Your Faith Act,” requires each state institution of higher education to adopt a policy that reasonably accommodates the sincerely held religious beliefs and practice of students regarding exams, other academic requirements, and absences for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system. To read H.B. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]