Last year's Title IX rule will stay in effect during this review period. The 67-page question-and-answer document includes details on how sexual harassment is defined, how a school can obtain notice of sexual harassment, how a school should respond to allegations of sexual harassment and how a school must process formal complaints of sexual harassment, including live hearings and cross-examination. More information can be found in the article below:

Sponsors: Representative Miranda, Representative Galonski

Committee: House Criminal Justice

HB 266 would eliminate the statute of limitations of § 2907.02 Rape, remove the spousal exemption from § 2907.02 Rape, and extend the statute of limitations for civil child sexual abuse claims from 12 years to the date the survivor reaches the age of 55.

Eliminate sex crime spousal exceptions; permit spousal testimony

Sponsors: Representative Lanese, Representative Boggs

Committee: House Criminal Justice

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Declare racism a public health crisis 

House Sponsors:

Senate Sponsors:

Committees: House State and Local Government Committee, Senate Health Committee

Click here for more information

Sponsors: Representative Lipps, Representative Kelly

Committee: Senate Primary and Secondary Education

Status: Passed House, Referred to Senate Primary & Secondary Education Committee

Current law does not mandate education addressing the pervasive problems of sexual abuse and sexual violence. Erin's Law would require sexual abuse prevention education in grades K-6, add sexual violence prevention education in grades 7-12, and require additional training for school personnel. Ohio is a regional outlier, as Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York have all passed Erin's Law. Erin's Law curriculum first appeared in public schools in 2009, and Ohio's legislation meets our individual state's needs for district expertise in crafting compliant lessons.

Remove the cap on damages for noneconomic loss when a victim of rape or assault brings a tort action 

Sponsors: Representative Boggs, Representative Russo

Committee: House Civil Justice Committee

This bill would remove limitations on the amount of compensatory damages for noneconomic loss in tort actions brought by a victim of rape, felonious assault, aggravated assault, assault, or negligent assault.

Sponsors: Representative Galonski, Representative Richardson

Committee: House Criminal Justice Committee

Sponsors: Representative Sobecki, Representative Lepore-Hagan 

Committee: House Civil Justice Committee

This bill aims to enhance protections for tenant-survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence by allowing survivors the option to terminate rental agreements and prohibiting a variety of retaliatory actions from landlords against tenant-survivors, among other protections.

For more information on the link between sexual violence and housing, check out this resource from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Join OAESV for our monthly discussion on substantive legislation and upcoming federal policy developments. Access the registration here.

This webinar will provide a comprehensive review of Title IX changes so far in 2021 and will forecast potential developments to Title IX in the coming years in the Biden-Harris administration. To register, please access this link.

For more information, please visit our Training & Events Calendar here.

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