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THE COMMUNICATOR A News Magazine from State Representative Dave Greenspan
Spring 2019
Welcome to our news magazine - The Communicator. The Communicator is intended to provide the residents and businesses of the 16th Ohio House District and the State of Ohio with periodic updates on legislative issues that are important to all Ohioans. It is my honor to represent the Cities of Bay Village, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Rocky River and Westlake.
About Representative Greenspan
Welcome Message
"As powerful as government is, it can only do so much by itself. Government can never take the place of parents in raising children. Government can never take the place of families and churches and synagogues in teaching values. Government can never take the place of people in our communities working together and looking out for each other. Government can, of course, provide opportunities and encouragement. Government can help the next generation become better off. But government cannot make the next generation better. Government can set goals but only people can touch souls.“ A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat, Author Senator Zell Miller, Stroud & Hall Publishers, 2003.
Representative Dave Greenspan is serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 16th Ohio House District, which includes the cities of Bay Village, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Rocky River, and Westlake. Representative Greenspan has a wealth of experience in local government, serving in different capacities across the country. He served on the inaugural City Council for the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia and helped establish its Fire and Police Departments, develop its first Fund Balance Reserve Policy, and expand the city’s parks program. Most recently, Representative Greenspan served two terms on the Cuyahoga County Council, first elected to the inaugural County Council in 2010. During his tenure, Representative Greenspan was the chairman of the Cuyahoga County Finance and Budgeting Committee, directing the adoption of a $3 billion biennial budget, which is the largest county operating budget in the state of Ohio. Dave graduated from Troy University in Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting. In addition to his dedication to public service, Representative Greenspan has held a variety of roles in the public sector, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. He has held leadership positions with the Atlanta Olympic Broadcasting, Turner Media Consultants, and the PGA TOUR Radio Network. Currently, Representative Greenspan is a small business owner and Chief Executive Officer of Green Elk Consulting Services, a consulting company that focuses on emerging/start-up ventures and turn-around business entities. Representative Greenspan is married with three children and is active in their education, extracurricular activities, and civic organizations. He and his family currently live in Westlake, Ohio.
State Representative Dave Greenspan
Representative Greenspan discussing HB 194 with Jim Otte from WHIO in Dayton.
COLUMBUS—State Representatives Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) introduced legislation that will create a Sports Gaming Advisory Board, designed to legalize and regulate sports gaming in Ohio. The primary purpose of this legislation is in direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow states the ability to offer legalized betting on professional and college sports. “At its core – this bill is intended to provide additional funding for public education in Ohio by making sports betting legal,” said Rep. Greenspan. “The format and structure of the bill provides clarity as to the authority overseeing sport betting in Ohio while providing flexibility to address opportunities and challenges facing this newly legalized industry.” This bill allows the Ohio Lottery Commission to administer sports gaming in Ohio. Additionally, this bill will expand the Commission from nine to 11 members and require that no less than three of the 11 members have knowledge and experience in sports gaming.
House Bill 46: House Bill 46 requires the Ohio Treasurer of State to create and maintain the Ohio State Government Expenditure Database, improving government transparency and accessibility for Ohioans. “Making government more accessible and transparent for Ohioans and my constituents was a goal of mine when I first started on Cuyahoga County Council,” Greenspan said. “I am excited to be re-introducing this measure.” House Bill 46 was voted unanimously out of committee and heads to the House floor for a vote.
Rep. Greenspan speaking on the House Floor in favor of HB 47.
House Bill 50: House Bill 50 declares inventions at county hospitals to be hospital property. This piece of legislation allows county hospitals the same protections of their intellectual property that state institutions of higher education and their affiliated medical centers currently have. House Bill 50 passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Rep. Greenspan's Legislation Updates
House Bill 47: House Bill 47 will increase the time within which property tax complaints must be decided and to change the name of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation. This legislation will allow county boards of revisions, especially those in heavily populated counties, additional time to be compliant. House bill 47 was voted off the House floor with bipartisan support and heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Read coverage of HB 194
House State and Local Government Committee unanimously voting out HB 46.
The Casino Control Commission shall play an integral operational role in sports wagering. The Casino Control Commission shall have the authority to regulate and investigate those engaging in sports wagering – at the direction of the Ohio Lottery Commission. This legislation also levies a tax on businesses that provide sports gaming. A 10 percent tax will be imposed on all sports gaming in this bill. Prior to the distribution of taxes to the Lottery Profits Education Fund, all applicable expenditures to operate the sports gaming shall be paid. Two percent of the taxes imposed shall be dedicated to the problem gaming and addiction fund. Mobile and online gaming is currently in U.S. District Court of Appeals in New Hampshire. Based on this pending litigation, the bill broadly applies to mobile and online gaming as merely a delivery vehicle issue as it relates to sports gaming in Ohio. Mobile and online gaming is not listed directly in the bill, but is it believed that once this issue is resolved by federal courts, that if permissible, then Ohio simply will allow mobile and online gaming as allowable under the definition of a “Sports Gaming Equipment,” i.e., a “Device.” Furthermore, this bill will provide additional funding for public education in Ohio and increase resources for gaming and addiction services.
House Bill 194: Sports Betting in Ohio
The Sports Gaming Advisory Board will research and develop recommendations with respect to sports gaming to the Commission. This board will consist of 11 members: seven appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate and two by the House. This board will end after three years.
HB 231: The Allison Rose Suhy Act
House Bill 252: HB 252 will create a grant program under the Department of Development Services Agency for a land reutilization demolition program. The funds awarded from these grants will go to county land reutilization corporations for the purpose of funding demolitions on blighted parcels. County land reutilization programs will commit funds equal to or greater than the amount of the grant. HB 252 has been referred to the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee and now awaits its first hearing.
Last year, Rep. Greenspan sponsored legislation authorizing the new license plates which was approved during the 132nd General Assembly. Attorney General Yost’s office has joined with the Ohio Education Association to offer a design contest for students in kindergarten through fifth grade to create the logo and slogan that will appear on Ohio license plates later this year. Contributions collected when vehicle owners select these plates will fund grants for nonprofit organizations, schools, and school districts to provide bullying prevention training programs or similar educational opportunities. For complete contest rules, visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/StopBullyingLicensePlateContest.
Read coverage of HB 231
Transportation Budget Update
House Bill 231: HB 231 would encourage school districts, community schools, and STEM schools to create food allergy training for staff members and students. Similar legislation was introduced last General Assembly by former Representative Marlene Anielski in response to the death of Allison Rose Suhy from Brecksville. The death was a result of an anaphylactic reaction due to her allergy to peanuts. The bill addresses the growing concern of food allergies by training staff members on how to recognize and respond to a person experiencing an allergic reaction. Each school district and institution of higher education may create training for staff members and age-appropriate training for students about food allergies. Staff members would earn continuing education units for the training and there would be no increase in the number of hours required. Furthermore, the legislation requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to make a list annually of organizations and companies that offer free epinephrine and make that information available on its website. The bill would also require ODE to send a copy of this information to each school district, other public schools and chartered non-public schools. HB 231 is waiting on its first hearing in the House committee on Primary and Secondary Education.
House Bill 157: HB 157 will create a Local Government Adult and Senior Services Fund in the State Treasury. House Bill 157 authorizes the director of the office of Budget and Management (OBM) to allocate to the Senior Services Fund 50 percent of the annual surplus revenue remaining after required allocations to the Budget Stabilization Fund have been made. Each county treasurer would receive an appropriation from the fund based on that county’s senior population as calculated by the OBM director and certified by the county auditor. None of that money could be used for any purpose other than support of adult protective services or senior services and facilities. HB 157 was referred to the Finance committee and awaits its first hearing.
Representative Greenspan was successful in including a 75 percent increase ($30 million) in funding for public transportation. The funds appropriated for public transportation are federal flex funds and not motor fuel tax, the use of which are prohibited under the Ohio Constitution.
Rep. Greenspan introducing HB 231.
Representative Greenspan will continue to host Donuts with Dave throughout his second term. These are open office hours where constituents can talk with Rep. Greenspan about any questions or concerns! The next Donuts with Dave is June 22nd at 10:00am at the Rocky River Public Library
Contact Our Office: Representative Dave Greenspan District 16 77 S. High St 13th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone (614) 466-0961 Fax (614) 719-3998 eMail: Rep16@OhioHouse.Gov
Updates from Our Columbus Office
Our office said farewell to Jonathan Jurisevic this month. Jonathan was my second Legislative Aide in the House. During his year in my office, I watched Jonathan serve our community diligently. Our office appreciates all of his hard work and we wish him good luck with his future endeavors!
Our office welcomes my new Legislative Aide, Ellen Turk. Ellen is a veteran legislative aide here in the House. Ellen has experience working in a Chairman's office and running legislation. She stepped up to the plate when she took over during one of the busiest times in our office. Ellen is going to be a great asset to our team here in Columbus!
Connect with Rep. Greenspan
