Ohio House Passes SB 185

On March 12, 2008, the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 185, the Ohio Library Council's omnibus library legislation, by a 94-0 vote. This legislation will:

• correct a drafting error in HB 9 and include school district public libraries in the Open Records Law;
• limit the number of Ohio public libraries to the existing 251;
• change the title of library clerk-treasurer to fiscal officer;
• allow public libraries to require their employees to participate in direct payroll deposit;
• change the time for advertising open bids for contracts over $25,000 from 30 days to 14 days;
• place OPLIN in permanent law; and
• change the name of the Library and Local Government Support Fund (LLGSF) to the Public Library Fund (PLF).

The bill will become law 90 days after it is signed by the Governor, which we expect will happen within the next several weeks.