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Capital News: Puppy mills, English only to return in "09?

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by Mark Kovac, Capital Bureau Chief
The 128th General Assembly of the state of Ohio has its ceremonial start this week.
But memories of the 127th assembly and of Legislature's past will linger, thanks to bills left in limbo in 2007 and "08 but which likely will be reintroduced in coming weeks.
Veterans bonuses, election reform and other hot-button issues will snag more than a few headlines. But there are plenty of others that will draw crowds to the Statehouse.
Here are a few that I'll be watching come next month, when new legislative committees are seated and get to work:
English-only: Remember the big debate over House Bill 477, calling for governmental activities to be conducted in English?
The Republican-sponsored legislation passed the House on a party-line vote in May, then was left untouched by the Senate through the end of the session.
It would have required English to be used during meetings involving public bodies, including state, county, township, city and school district-related boards, commissions and committees. All policies issued, records created or other action also would have to be in English.
The legislation included a number of exemptions, including instances involving public health, safety and welfare, foreign language instruction or tourism promotion.
The bill also included provisions prohibiting public agencies from denying employment to individuals solely because they lack foreign language skills and requiring those groups to break out budget line items for funds dedicated to language translation.
Puppy mills: There were bills in both chambers aimed at combating the inhumane breeding and selling of dogs.
The proposed legislation included about two dozen standards or animal care. It would prohibit the beating or brutalizing of animals or the confinement of dogs "if urine or feces have accumulated beyond an amount that is expected in a normal 12-hour period."
Breeders could not keep dogs in enclosures that don't allow the animals to "stand, turn around or lay down" without touching the sides and top of their cages or keep animals in unlit areas during daytime hours.
Enclosures would have to include a dry, insulated shelter and clean straw or other nontoxic bedding material and adequate fresh water and "wholesome food" on a daily basis.
Additionally, breeders would have to trim dogs' nails, regularly groom and provide appropriate medication and protection against fleas, ticks and other insects and worms.
Committee hearings on the bills drew big crowds of proponents, opponents and other interested parties. and the bipartisan sponsors of the legislation are back for the new session.
Sex Offender Plates: Legislation offered in the Senate that would have required sex offenders to display florescent green license plates on their vehicles had some emotional committee hearings but didn't gain much traction during the past general assembly.
It was titled Kristen's Law, after a young Wooster-area girl who was viciously raped, murdered and dismembered by a neighbor. It would have targeted offenders and predators who are already are required to register with county sheriff's offices, including those convicted of rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, importuning and sex-related crimes involving children.
They would be required to display a florescent green license plate on their vehicles, providing clear evidence to any onlooker of their past crimes.
The plate would serve as a deterrent to potential future offenders and would enable parents, children, law enforcement and others to monitor sexual offenders' activities.
Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.