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July 21, 2021 On July 14, 2021, Governor DeWine signed Ohio House Bill (HB) 244, which prohibits public school districts and state institutions of higher education from requiring an individual to receive a vaccine that has not been granted full United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Because existing COVID-19 vaccines are currently operating […]
July 12, 2021 On July 1, 2021, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 110, Ohio’s 2022-2023 biennial budget, into law, which allows local, city, exempted village and joint vocational school districts (“school districts”) to request to use an “online learning model” through the creation of an “online learning school.” Online learning is defined as a scenario where […]
June 3, 2021 On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated and expanded its technical assistance publication addressing COVID-19 issues arising under the federal equal employment opportunity laws. In its updated guidance, the EEOC reiterated its prior opinion that employers may require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of […]
June 2, 2021 Although the pandemic is seemingly subsiding in the U.S., public school districts in Ohio still face the challenge of how to use multiple forms of pandemic-related government funding. Notably, the task of navigating the permissible uses of COVID-19 funds, and the procedures school districts must follow with respect to them, pose a […]
May 18, 2021 On May 12, 2021, Governor DeWine announced public health orders such as capacity limits, social distancing and the mask mandate will come to an end, with the exception of those for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that those who […]
May 17, 2021 With districts still scrambling to determine how to continue online learning for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond, many are considering implementation of blended learning. Under Ohio law, “blended learning” means the delivery of instruction in a combination of time in a supervised physical location away from home and online delivery whereby […]
May 17, 2021 Ohio’s health orders will end on June 2, 2021, more than a full year after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine first enacted the orders. Prior restrictions will remain in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but all other public health orders such as capacity limits, social distancing and the mask mandate will come […]
May 14, 2021 In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Congress enacted several legislative changes to employee benefits law. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (“CAA”) creates temporary special rules for health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, and the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) provides subsidized COBRA coverage for individuals and families. Flexible Spending Accounts […]
May 4, 2021 It’s not your typical tax relief. And while it’s available for only a small window of time, it’s tax relief nonetheless. Last month, the IRS issued guidance explaining how employers, including school districts, can claim tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“Act”). The Act allows school districts to […]
April 5, 2021 On April 1, 2021, the Ohio Department of Education (“ODE”) released much-anticipated guidance regarding remote learning options for the 2021-22 school year. While legislative action to address continuation of remote learning options for the upcoming school year remains uncertain, ODE’s guidance outlines the options that exist under current law for districts wishing […]
March 18, 2021 *Update: Ohio updated its tax filing deadline to May 17, 2021, however first quarter estimated income tax payments for tax year 2021 are not impacted and must still be made by April 15, 2021. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is delaying this year’s deadline to file individual federal tax returns (Form 1040). […]
March 17, 2021 On Thursday, March 11, the president signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act” or “ARPA”). The Act provides funding for education, COVID-19 vaccination and testing, economic injury disaster loans, restaurant grants, expanded paycheck protection program eligibility, and support for struggling live venues. The Act also provides financial […]