Rep. Mark Romanchuk Announces Support for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Package
For Immediate Release
March 26, 2020
State Representative Mark Romanchuk (R-Mansfield), Republican candidate for Ohio’s 22nd Senate District, announced that he voted for major legislation in the Ohio House, which provides a series of relief measures for all Ohioans during the national COVID-19 crisis. Among other provisions, the legislation aims to provide relief to Ohio taxpayers, continue the essential operations of state government, and assists small businesses. Romanchuk co-sponsored the legislation, which passed unanimously in the Ohio House and Senate, and is expected to be signed by Governor Mike DeWine today.
“The health and well-being of every resident is of critical importance to me and I am proud that my colleagues in the Ohio House and Senate took swift action on a major relief package that will provide this emergency assistance,” Romanchuk said. “We worked collaboratively and quickly to ensure that we could address our most pressing needs during these unprecedented times. My office remains open and my staff and I will assist you in any way that we can.”
The bill passed by the Ohio House yesterday does the following:
- Moves the state tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15, 2020;
- Prohibits water shutoffs;
- Waives waiting period, changes eligibility for COVID-19 and waives work search requirements under the state’s unemployment law;
- Permits the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to continue making payments to publicly funded childcare providers during the emergency.
Protecting the Health and Safety of All Ohioans
- Gives the Director of Medicaid additional flexibility to support the health care workforce and providers during crisis
- Allows recent nursing graduates to obtain a temporary license to practice prior to passing the licensure examination
- Grants certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), under certain conditions, the authority to perform additional duties or services related to anesthesia care.
Provides Students, Teachers and Administrators Relief and Certainty
- Waives state testing and report cards for the 2019-2020 school year and allows high school students to graduate who were already on track to do so;
- Ensures children continue to have access to meals even as their school is closed;
- Allows for EdChoice scholarships for school buildings in the 2020-2021 school year;
- Permits schools to use distance learning to make up for missed days or hours of instruction caused by statewide K-12 closures;
- Allows licensed special education providers to serve students through telehealth and other electronic communications methods.
Ensures Essential State and Local Government Operations Will Continue Uninterrupted
- Extends absentee voting by mail for the primary to April 28, 2020 and requires the Ohio Secretary of State to notify all Ohio registered voters (who have not yet voted) the process for obtaining a mail-in only ballot;
- Extends validity of state licenses (such as a driver’s license) and provides a 90-day renewal period;
- Allows public bodies to meet electronically so long as the public has ability to participate.
