Tagged: Ohio Legislature

Environmental activists and consumer advocates are breathing a sigh of relief. Ohio lawmakers apparently are NOT going to change the state’s energy efficiency program during the last days of the current legislative session.

The program requires electric companies to lower overall power usage by giving money to people and businesses that buy energy-saving appliances and equipment. To fund the program, all electricity customers pay a surcharge on their monthly electric bills.

Sponsors say a bill passed by the Ohio House would give school districts more flexibility in making up snow days and other lost time.

The bill would change state law regarding the time students must spend in school. It would require them to spend a minimum number of hours in school each year instead of a minimum number of days.

House Bill 191 changes the minimum school year from 182 days to 455 hours for half-day kindergarten, 910 hours for grades one through six, and 1001 hours for grades seven through 12.

Ohio consumer advocates and environmentalists have been worrying out loud that state legislators might water down or wipe out a 4-year old program that encourages electricity customers to be more energy-efficient. Now, as statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports --- some comments by the top man in the Ohio Senate show those activists have good REASON to worry.