Leadership

Another Food Labeling Bill Proposed

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed legislation intended to lower food waste by creating an Ohio-only regulatory scheme for food labeling. Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) has indicated he intends to introduce the measure next year.

The bill would create an Ohio “used by” label for food; the “used by” date would be separate from a “sell by” date. It would also lower state liability standards for food donation.

The OMA has expressed concern about an Ohio standard; these are appropriate at the federal level, and not through a patchwork of state laws.

The OMA also pointed out that the federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides liability protections to manufacturers, retailers and food banks.

Contact Ryan Augsburger for more information. 10/30/2018

OMA on Election 2018

On August 1, the OMA-PAC board of directors formally endorsed the Mike DeWine-Jon Husted ticket in the 2018 gubernatorial race.

The board’s endorsement of DeWine-Husted was based on the ticket’s focus on the economy, workforce development, jobs, education, opioids/substance abuse and strengthening communities. The decision also reflected the candidates’ deep knowledge of and wide experience in state government.

Earlier in the year the OMA-PAC board of directors endorsed candidates in the two Supreme Court of Ohio races, Justice Mary DeGenaro and Judge Craig Baldwin, due to their depth of experience and judicial philosophies.

Finally, the OMA board of directors opposed Issue 1 for these key reasons:

– Ohio’s manufacturers care deeply about the safety of their employees. Issue 1 has the potential to undermine workplace safety due to new relaxed criminal drug sentencing laws. If Issue 1 passes, Ohio will have some of the country’s most lenient criminal drug laws. With drugs already posing a significant challenge in the workplace, manufacturers need laws that protect, not endanger, workers and their workplaces and productivity.

– The amendment would make it more difficult for judges to connect offenders to rehabilitation services.

– In Ohio, criminal sentencing reform should be accomplished in statute via the state’s legislative processes. Issue 1 would inappropriately enshrine criminal sentencing in Ohio’s Constitution. The Ohio General Assembly could not pass laws to change Issue 1. Only another constitutional amendment and statewide election could modify Issue 1.

Here is OMA’s comprehensive, non-partisan Ohio Election Guide.10/22/2018

OMA Policy Team Offers Post-election Summary on Nov. 7

On Wednesday, November 7, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., the OMA public policy team will host a teleconference to highlight election outcomes and handicap the impacts to manufacturers.

The call-in number is: (866) 362-9768; 940-609-8246#

The OMA policy team look forward to sharing the early results of a long and intense campaign season. 10/22/2018

DSA Issues RFP for Southeast Ohio MEP

The Development Services Agency (DSA) of Ohio has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from nonprofit organizations to apply to become the southeast Ohio region Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

The RFP is intended to identify and select the organization(s) that will serve as the regional partner to deliver MEP services to manufacturing businesses in the region with particular emphasis on serving small to middle-sized manufacturers.

There is more information here. 10/22/2018

Ohio Cybersecurity Safe Harbor Law Takes Effect Nov. 2

From OMA Connections Partner Calfee: “Ohio recently enacted legislation providing a “safe harbor” in the form of an affirmative defense against causes of action in tort that allege that an entity failed to implement reasonable information security controls, resulting in a data breach concerning personal information or restricted information (the unauthorized disclosure of which is likely to result in a material risk of identity theft or other fraud). …

“The … additions to Ohio law may help many businesses to shield themselves from liability for cybersecurity breach incidents.”

Read more about this from Calfee here. 10/23/2018

Cybersecurity: How Scared Are You?

From OMA Connections Partner Clark, Schaefer, Hackett (CSH): “October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, because there’s no bigger horror show than a data breach. Consider these stats:

• The average cost of a data breach is now $3.86 million.
• Hackers’ favorite way to deliver malware is still through employee email.
• 77% of compromised attacks last year were fileless, meaning they infected software already loaded on an employee’s computer.”

Test your company’s cybersecurity confidence with CSH’s 10-question, 2-minute cybersecuity quiz. 10/23/2018

OMA Pushes for Improved Rail Service

The OMA once again joined forces with industry leaders in expressing support for nominations to the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

In this letter to President Trump, the coalition writes: “Freight rail customers have been patiently waiting for a fully staffed STB to tackle critical issues such as skyrocketing rates, rail service outages, and the lack of competition in freight rail service. America’s manufacturers, small businesses, farmers, and energy producers continue to face increasing rail costs and lack of competitive options as the STB is unable to act without a full complement, which is why it is imperative that Vice-Chair Deb Miller be re-nominated.” 10/17/2018

State Food Product Regulations Coming?

The OMA is working with officials concerning a state legislative proposal that appears to empower the State of Ohio to regulate certain “use by” labels.

The package of reforms also appears to provide more liability for donors of food.

The OMA has obtained this memo authored by proponents of the reform.

An informal working group of food industry leaders held a call on the reforms this week. Interested food manufacturers are invited to share comment with the OMA’s Ryan Augsburger before October 24. 10/17/2018

Workshop: Opportunities for Manufacturers in Petrochemical Value Chain

The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership and its affiliates are working with Catalyst Connection to inform manufacturing companies about existing and emerging shale-manufacturing sectors.

This one-day workshop on November 15 in Zanesville will explain the benefits of entering the downstream petrochemical value chain and help companies create a plan to connect with industry players.

Manufacturing companies that use chemicals, plastics and advanced materials will benefit most from the workshop content.

The cost of this workshop for attendees has been subsidized by a grant provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission through the West Virginia University Research Corporation.

The Entering the Downstream Petrochemical Value Chain Workshop is made available exclusively for manufacturing companies in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Learn more and register here. 10/15/2018

Voting is Underway in Ohio

Ohioans began voting this week on Wednesday, October 10 (the first day after the close of registration) via in-person and by mail-in absentee ballot.

The Secretary of State has an excellent online Voter Toolkit for all necessary voting information. Visit MyOhioVote/VoterToolkit to check your voter registration status, find your polling location, view your sample ballot, and track your absentee ballot.

Voters can also connect with “OhioSOSHusted” on Facebook and Twitter to get a virtual voting sticker badge to let their friends and followers know they’ve participated in the General Election. Facebook users simply need to “like” Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s official Facebook page to “wear” a virtual sticker on their wall. Twitter users may share their voting badge by visiting the Secretary of State’s website. 10/8/2018