OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 147 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 147’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Fowler Arthur and A. Miller
Effective Date:
Mike Niemi, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
 Includes pupil services personnel registration, private provider registration under the
Autism Scholarship Program, and the authorization for certain unlicensed individuals to
teach in high-performing school districts within the definition of a “license” for purposes
of the laws regarding school employee misconduct.
 Requires school districts, educational service centers, and chartered nonpublic schools
to file a report with the Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding a licensed
employee who retires during a disciplinary investigation for misconduct.
 Requires school districts, educational service centers, and chartered nonpublic schools
to file a report when a licensed employee is removed from the list of eligible substitute
teachers because it has reasonably been determined the employee committed an act
unbecoming to the teaching profession.
 Requires the State Board of Education to revoke the license of an individual who is
convicted of prostitution unless the individual was coerced into committing the offense.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
School employee misconduct
Definition of “license”
The bill expands the school personnel subject to discipline by the State Board of
Education for misconduct by modifying the definition of “license” to include staff members
holding the following registrations or authorizations:
1. Pupil services personnel registration;
2. The authorization under which an unlicensed individual otherwise qualified based on
experience may teach at certain high-performing school districts, provided the
employing district offers mentoring and professional development opportunities; and
December 15, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
3. Private provider registration with approval to participate in the Autism Scholarship
Program.1
As a result, an individual holding one of these registrations or authorizations may be subject to
discipline by the State Board of Education for misconduct. Currently “license” means any
certificate, license, or permit issued by the State Board, a certificate to teach in a chartered
nonpublic school, or a school district treasurer license.2
Reports required to be filed with state Superintendent
Retirement under disciplinary investigation
The bill requires a school district, educational service center (ESC), or chartered
nonpublic school to file a report with the Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding a
licensed employee who retires during a disciplinary investigation for misconduct. This includes a
report when an employee retires under threat of termination or nonrenewal of the employee’s
contract during the investigation.3 Continuing law already requires that such a report be filed
when an employee resigns during a disciplinary investigation.
Unlike the other similar reporting requirements under continuing law, this new
reporting requirement does not apply to community schools, STEM schools,
college-preparatory boarding schools, or county boards of developmental disability.
Removal from substitute list for conduct unbecoming
The bill also requires a school district, ESC, or chartered nonpublic school to file a report
with the state Superintendent when the district, ESC, or chartered nonpublic school removes a
licensed employee from the list of eligible substitute teachers because the district, ESC, or
chartered nonpublic school has reasonably determined that the employee committed an act
that is unbecoming to the teaching profession.4
Similar to the report above, this new reporting requirement does not apply to
community schools, STEM schools, college-preparatory boarding schools, or county boards of
developmental disability.
Prostitution − a bar to teaching
Under the bill, when the State Board learns of a guilty plea, a finding of guilt, or a
conviction of prostitution by a current or expired license holder or by an applicant for renewal
1 R.C. 3319.31(A). See also R.C. 3302.151, 3310.411, and 3319.221, none in the bill.
2 See Chapter 3319. See also R.C. 3301.071 and 3301.074, neither in the bill.
3 R.C. 3319.313(B)(3), (B)(4), and (E).
4 R.C. 3319.313(B)(5).
P a g e |2 H.B. 147
AS Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
of a license, the State Board must revoke the license or deny renewal of the license, unless the
prostitution offense was committed under coercion.5
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-18-23
Reported, H. Primary & Secondary Education 10-30-23
Passed House (86-4) 12-13-23
ANHB0147PH-135/ks
5 R.C. 3319.31(C).
P a g e |3 H.B. 147
AS Passed by the House