SB 117 Summary
Ohio Senate Bill 117 was introduced in the Ohio Senate on 5/3/2023 by Senators Jerry Cirino (R) District 18 and Rob McColley (R) District 1. It was assigned to the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee and the House Finance Committee.
Short title: Establish certain entities at Ohio State and University of Toledo
Long Title: To enact section 3301.85 of the Revised Code to establish the Regional Partnerships Program, to transfer cash from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education Licensure Fund, and to make an appropriation.
SB 117 Status (Ohio Legislature)
Read our testimony against SB 117
SB 117 went through a number of hearing in the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee, but was never voted out of committee. A substitute version was eventually slipped into the Ohio operating budget and subsequently approved by Governor DeWine in July of 2023 (Sub HB 33), effectively authorizing the creation of these new “Intellectual Diversity Centers” through the legislative back door, and providing $24 million in initial funding.
The 5 new centers created by this bill include:
- Ohio State University
- University of Toledo
- Miami University
- Cleveland State University
- Wright State (originally University of Cincinnati)
