Catholic Conference of Ohio

The Ohio Senate passed CCO-supported House Bill 29 (D-Humphrey | R-John), which would provide inmates with access to feminine hygiene products and showers. The bill was previously unanimously passed by the House and now goes to Governor DeWine. 

In addition, the Ohio House of Representatives passed CCO-supported House Bill 393 (R-Click | D-Brewer) to require Community Based Correctional Facilities to assist inmates in obtaining ID cards prior to release. The bill is an expansion of previously enacted legislation that requires the State of Ohio's correctional facilities to do the same. It now goes to the Ohio Senate. 

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in support of House Bill 29 (D-Humphrey | R-John), which would provide inmates with access to feminine hygiene products and showers. The bill was unanimously passed by the House and is now in the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee. In the testimony, CCO stated, "Compelled by our belief in the inviolable dignity of every person (a dignity that no fault, crime, or sin can erase), we are pleased to testify today in support of improved access to feminine hygiene products for inmates. The measure of a just society is how well it treats those on the margins, most especially the imprisoned and often crime victims."

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The Catholic Conference of Ohio provided testimony in support of House Bill 393 (R-Click | D-Brewer) to require Community Based Correctional Facilities to assist inmates in obtaining ID cards prior to release. The bill is an expansion of previously enacted legislation that requires the State of Ohio's correctional facilities to do the same. "Providing applications for identification that assist a returning citizen in obtaining employment will yield manifold benefits, both for those involved in the justice system and beyond,” wrote the CCO. "HB 393 is a laudable step toward this kind of authentic reconciliation and justice by giving individuals greater access to the resources needed for their reintegration into our communities.”

Read the full testimony >

CCO supported Senate Bill 198, sponsored by Senators George Lang (R-West Chester) and Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), unanimously passed the Ohio House of Representatives on December 11, 2024. The bill would provide inmates with state identification cards and documentation upon their release relating to work experience, education, and trade skills. SB 198 previously passed the Ohio Senate with a unanimous vote of 31-0 in June 2024, and now goes to the desk of Governor DeWine. The CCO believes the bill will help recently incarcerated inmates to readjust to their communities and contribute to the common good.

House Bill 50 (sponsored by State Representatives Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati)), which creates a certificate of qualification for housing (CQH) for the formerly incarcerated, was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. The Catholic Conference of Ohio supported HB 50, noting that, “Restoration demands that we respond to the victims of crime with care and compassion, but the full administration of justice is impossible unless we also attend to the dignity of those returning from prison. … Becoming a tenant is one of the most important steps a formerly incarcerated person takes in their reintegration, and failure to do so dramatically increases the likelihood of recidivism.”

Two bills supported by the Catholic Conference of Ohio are moving forward to the next stage in the legislative process.  House Bill 7, the Strong Foundations Act, passed the Ohio House of Representatives and will now go to the Ohio Senate. HB 7 supports Ohio mothers and babies in their first one thousand days to address maternal and infant mortality and to improve health, developmental, and learning outcomes. Programs it funds include Healthy Beginnings at Home, which helps pregnant women maintain stable housing, and the Help Me Grow program, which provides parent support and education to improve maternal and child health and encourage positive parenting.

Senate Bill 198, which provides inmates with state identification cards and documentation upon their release relating to work experience, education, and trade skills, was passed out of the Small Business and Economic Opportunity Senate Committee. It will now go to the Ohio Senate floor for a vote.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in support of House Bill 460, the Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (GROW) Act, which would allow for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records. The Catholic Church calls for public policies that ensure justice while directing the criminal justice system to achieve its ends of rehabilitation and restoration. This bill does both without compromising the demands of reparation following a criminal conviction. Click “Read more” for the full testimony.

In addition, House Bill 50 to create a certificate of qualification for housing (CQH) for the formerly incarcerated, was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, May 8. The bill now goes to Governor DeWine for his approval as the Ohio House of Representatives passed HB 50 on May 24, 2023.