March, 2010

State Representative Pryor Joins State Representative Bubp in Working for JROTC

By Admin  

Rep. Pryor (D-Chillicothe)  joined forces with Rep. Bubp (R- West Union) to ensure that Junior ROCT would be permitted as an elective class in the Ohio CORE curriculem. This legislation will be effective for Ohio students starting next school year.  This bipartisan legislation was signed into law by Governor Strickland a few weeks ago at Westland High School in Galloway, Ohio.  Below is a summary of the bill, if you have additional questions please feel free to contact Representative Pryor’s Columbus office at 614.644.7928 or district85@ohr.state.oh.us

·         Adds Junior ROTC as a permitted elective within the Ohio Core curriculum.

·         Permits school districts, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to excuse students participating in Junior ROTC for at least two school years from high school physical education.

·         Directs the Department of Education to reevaluate each community school that was ordered to close at the end of the 2009-2010 school year for poor academic performance to determine whether the school still meets the closure criteria when the report card ratings for its first two years of operation are excluded, and permits each community school that no longer meets the criteria to remain open after that school year.

·         Permits a community school that is not sponsored by the school district in which the school is located to operate as a conversion school and, under certain conditions, to obtain a new sponsor, if the school (1) has been in its current facility for at least three years prior to the 2009-2010 school year, (2) is sponsored by a school district adjacent to the district in which the school is located, (3) emphasizes serving gifted students, and (4) has been rated continuous improvement or higher for the three years prior to the 2009-2010 school year.

·         Extends by six months the deadline for certain school districts that have been allocated a share of federally “qualified” (interest-free) school construction bonds for their state-assisted classroom facilities projects to secure voter approval for their projects.

·         Makes the performance of the Harmon Commission’s duties to designate certain classrooms as “creative learning environments” and to award grants for school districts and community schools with such classrooms contingent on available funds.

Filed in: Legislation, Veterans Issues

Representative Pryor calls for an Ohio Legislator’s Veteran’s Caucus

By Admin  

Representative Ray Pryor called for the first meeting of the Ohio Legislator’s Veteran’s Caucus in the beginning of March,2010. 

The mission of the Veterans caucus, conceived by State Representative Ray Pryor, is to make sure that veteran and military issues receive the full attention of the legislature. Rep. Pryor invited all interested state House and Senate members to join, aprox. 18 legislators attended the first meeting, where discussion’s regarding the Ohio Military Kids Camp and several pieces of pending veterans legislation in the General Assembly took place.  The caucus plans to appoint officers for the caucus in the meeting which will be held in coming weeks.

If you have a suggestion or a concern that you would like for the caucus to discuss, please contact Rep. Pryor’s Columbus office at 614.644.7928 or district85@ohr.state.oh.us

Filed in: Veterans Issues

Representative Pryor introduces Legislation to Reform Sentencing for Murder Convictions

By Admin  

 

Representative Ray Pryor introduced a bill that reform the sentencing terms for those convicted of murder.  This legislation will amend section 2929.02 of the Ohio Revised Code to change the prison term for murder from an indefinite term of fifteen years to life to an indefinite term consisting of a minimum term of fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.   This legislation will toughen criminal sentencing and will provide judges more discretion when declaring sentencing for a convicted murder.

Filed in: Legislation

Statement of Rep. Pryor on Governor’s State of the State Address

By Admin  

COLUMBUS- State Representative Raymond A. Pryor (D-Chillicothe) released the following statement regarding Gov. Strickland’s State of the State address:
 
“I believe Ohio is in the beginning stages of an economic upturn, and I am proud to be part of Ohio’s rise to the top.  Governor Strickland’s State of the State Address was very encouraging, not only for me as a legislator but for all of Ohio and its bright future.  It is encouraging to see the progress that Ohio has made over the past few years, such as ranking first among 50 states in renewable and advanced energy manufacturing projects, and the recent announcement by DuPont in Pickaway County that they will invest $175 million into a facility that will make solar panels in Ohio.  I also look forward to upcoming projects such as the Ohio Neighborhood Harvest.  This program will greatly impact our district by ensuring that Ohioan’s have access to affordable, healthy and locally grown food.  In addition I sincerely look forward to programs such as the Energy Gateway Fund, the Build Your Own Business program, and The Small Business Growth Partnership program.  Each of the programs that Gov. Strickland announced today will be significantly effective in transforming Ohio’s economy. I too, believe in Ohio. I believe that if we as legislators can reach across the aisle and work successfully within both chambers we can put Ohio on the ‘road’ to success.”
 
Members of the media can also contact Representative Pryor at his Columbus office by calling his Legislative Aide, Alexandra Bonnell at 614.644.7928 or by emailing district85@ohr.state.oh.us.  
 
A text of the Governor’s remarks is available at http://www.governor.ohio.gov/2010StateoftheStateAddress.aspx

Filed in: Economic Development, Notes from Representative Ray Pryor