Press Release: Senate Passes Legislation Helping to Protect Safe Drinking Water
March 17, 2017
Steve Wilson News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) this week announced the Senate's unanimous passage of legislation that continues Ohio's efforts to protect our natural resources and ensure safe, clean drinking water for all Ohioans.
"Ohioans rely on safe drinking water for themselves and for their families," said Wilson. "This legislation takes further steps to protect one of our most precious natural resources."
Senate Bill 2 supports Ohio's commitments to reducing phosphorus run-off by 40 percent, as outlined in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This legislation better equips the Commission as it works to implement the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Strategy.
Other provisions of Senate Bill 2 include:
This week, the Senate also passed Senate Bill 44, which modernizes the filing process for local elections by allowing campaign finance reports to be filed electronically with county boards of elections.
"Modernized reporting makes it easier for local candidates to file campaign reports and increases transparency for voters seeking to access the information," said Wilson.
Senate Bill 44 would remove the paper-only filing requirement that still regulates political candidates and campaign committees that file with local boards of elections.
Supporting Families Battling Deadly Pediatric Brain Tumors
The Senate also approved legislation that would designate May 17th as "Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day." Primarily affecting children, DIPG is extremely resistant to chemotherapy treatment, making it one of the most deadly forms of pediatric brain tumors.
"Our hearts are with the patients and families battling this devastating disease," said Wilson. "Greater awareness has the potential to drive more research and offer hope for a cure."
Experts at Ohio Children's Hospitals have expressed strong support for the legislation to help raise awareness for clinical research seeking a cure for DIPG. The average prognosis of those diagnosed is 9 months. Symptoms include double vision, inability to close the eyelids completely, drooping of one side of the face as well as difficulty chewing and swallowing.
All three bills that passed in the Senate this week will now go to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
"Ohioans rely on safe drinking water for themselves and for their families," said Wilson. "This legislation takes further steps to protect one of our most precious natural resources."
Senate Bill 2 supports Ohio's commitments to reducing phosphorus run-off by 40 percent, as outlined in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This legislation better equips the Commission as it works to implement the Lake Erie Protection & Restoration Strategy.
Other provisions of Senate Bill 2 include:
- Assures thorough management of privately owned water systems.
- Requires ongoing asset management improvements by public water systems to address recurrent problems.
- Harmonizes federal and state law, allowing the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director to issue permits for entities discharging into privately owned treatment facilities.
- Encourages beneficial use of dredged materials from federal navigation channels such as Port Cleveland and Port Toledo.
- Strengthens the Ohio EPA's ability to evaluate and enforce the clean up of landfill facilities and properties. The bill also updates state requirements pertaining to construction and demolition debris to ensure safe processing, storage and disposal of materials.
This week, the Senate also passed Senate Bill 44, which modernizes the filing process for local elections by allowing campaign finance reports to be filed electronically with county boards of elections.
"Modernized reporting makes it easier for local candidates to file campaign reports and increases transparency for voters seeking to access the information," said Wilson.
Senate Bill 44 would remove the paper-only filing requirement that still regulates political candidates and campaign committees that file with local boards of elections.
Supporting Families Battling Deadly Pediatric Brain Tumors
The Senate also approved legislation that would designate May 17th as "Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day." Primarily affecting children, DIPG is extremely resistant to chemotherapy treatment, making it one of the most deadly forms of pediatric brain tumors.
"Our hearts are with the patients and families battling this devastating disease," said Wilson. "Greater awareness has the potential to drive more research and offer hope for a cure."
Experts at Ohio Children's Hospitals have expressed strong support for the legislation to help raise awareness for clinical research seeking a cure for DIPG. The average prognosis of those diagnosed is 9 months. Symptoms include double vision, inability to close the eyelids completely, drooping of one side of the face as well as difficulty chewing and swallowing.
All three bills that passed in the Senate this week will now go to the House of Representatives for further consideration.