2/6/12 – 2/12/12*

LAST WEEK:

In Ohio:

On Friday, February 3, 2012, Governor John Kasich announced appointments to the Help Me Grow Advisory Council. All terms begin Feb. 3, 2012 and end June 30, 2015. The following individuals were appointed:

• Kimberly L. Travers of Macedonia (Summit)
• Laurie A. Dinnebeil of Sylvania (Lucas)
• Katrina Bush of Mt. Sterling (Fayette)
• Joyce L. Calland of Urbana (Champaign)
• Shelia R. Torio of Toledo (Lucas)
• Urvia V. LeSure of Worthington (Franklin)
• Kellie R. Brown of Cambridge (Guernsey)
• Margaret Demko of Albany (Athens)
• Robert Denhard of Dublin (Franklin)
• Michelle Albast of Gahanna (Franklin)
• Barbara Weinberg of Marengo (Morrow)

THIS WEEK:

In Ohio:

On Monday, Representatives Michael Stinziano and Cheryl Grossman held an interested party stakeholder meeting to discuss concerns and possible changes to House Bill 332 (Visitability Tax Credit), based on input and questioning during legislative hearings. Participating in the meeting were representatives from the Ohio Home Builder’s Association, Ohio Departments of Development and Commerce, National MS Society, Ability Center of Greater Toledo and Center’s for Independent Living, DD Council and the staff for Ways and Means Committee.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, Governor John Kasich traveled to Steubenville, Ohio to give his State of the State Address. Highlighting job creation success over the past year, the governor indicated Ohio moved from 48^th in the nation to 9^th overall in job creation in the last year, creating a net growth of 43,500 new jobs in the last year. The governor emphasized a greater need for universities to work together, work initiatives to be better coordinated, and success in K-12, community colleges and universities as a driving force for better job creation.

On Wednesday, the House Health and Aging Committee will hold ALL Testimony and a possible vote on Senate Bill 247 (Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day). The bill would designate every July 9^th as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day in Ohio. The hearing will take place in Statehouse hearing room 116 at 9:00 a.m.

In Washington:

On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to mark up possible legislation entitled, “The Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act of 2012.” The discussion draft expands and clarifies responsibilities of public housing authorities, including:

• Changing from annual to biennial housing/unit inspections
• Clarifying life-threatening and non-life-threatening housing conditions that would require correction
• Increases the minimum monthly tenant contribution from $50 to $69.45 and provides adjustment for inflation
• Clarifies how income eligibility is determined, creates a 3-year review for elderly and disabled (instead of 1-year income review) on fixed incomes, and increases deductions from $400 to $525. Also clarifies that childcare expenses deducted under adjusted income for eligibility is limited to expenses in excess of 5 percent of family income (currently no excess limit) and 10 percent for health and medical expenses (currently 3 percent).
• Requires a study on the impact of providing public and assisted housing for elderly and disabled (including specifically persons with disabilities who are recovering from drug or alcohol abuse)  
• Provides authority to HUD to conduct demonstration program to expand the role of private capital in affordable housing projects
• Expands the Family Self Sufficiency Program (program encourages job attainment through set aside of any increase in rent as result of increased income. Set aside placed in escrow and may be used to purchase own home, pay for formal education or job training, start small business, pay down debt, buy vehicle, invest in retirement or educational savings accounts, purchase a computer).