American Association of University Professors
We have received notification that the opponent hearing for SB 1 will occur on Tuesday, February 11 at 2:00 pm in the North Hearing Room (2nd Floor) of the Ohio Statehouse.
The committee also announced a hearing for the morning of Wednesday, February 12 at 9:00 am in the South Hearing Room, and it appears they are slated to pass the bill out of committee at that time (no additional testimony opportunities). That means the full Ohio Senate could pass SB 1 in session later that day. Session begins at 1:30 pm Wednesday.
Important Testimony Instructions: Whether you’re testifying in-person or submitting written testimony only, you must fill out the witness form (link below). In order to be included in the official record, your witness form and testimony must be emailed as separate PDF documents at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing (so no later than Monday, February 10 at 2:00 pm) to Chair Kristina Roegner’s office. The email address to use is roegner@ohiosenate.gov.
In-person witnesses will be limited to three (3) minutes of oral testimony. The committee members may ask witnesses questions. At this time, there is no limit on the total length of the hearing, so it’s possible that this committee meeting lasts many hours.
Please note that OCAAUP, of course, will be providing broad testimony on the bill. The most effective way to make an impact is to be specific about how the bill would impact your teaching, your students, and your institution.
*If you are planning to testify in person, please email sara@ocaaup.org.* We may have the ability to provide a “priority witness list” and help the chair’s office sort through the testimony. We will do our best to ensure that all AAUP members who plan to show up have the opportunity to be heard. However, there is the possibility that witnesses are called upon in order of when the testimony was received by the chair’s office.
Parking: There are many parking options around the Ohio Statehouse, but the easiest to plan on is the Columbus Commons Underground Parking Garage located at 191 S. Third Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
Below are resources to help prepare your testimony:
–Testimony Template (this is a view-only doc; copy/paste into your own doc)
–Senate Higher Education Committee Witness Form
Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Statehouse on Tuesday!