Happy Friday Everyone,

The Ohio House Finance Committee is accepting public testimony next week on HB 33, the proposed state operating budget. We would like to have as many OPRA members submit written testimony on DODD and OOD budget initiatives as possible! For your convenience, I attached a template you can use for as written testimony. The template and witness slip includes references to DODD and ODD budgets. If you do not provide OOD services, you can remove those references if you would like. In the template there are places where we ask you to customize the testimony to reflect the services your agency providers. It is important you add this customization before submitting the testimony. The template is very similar to the template for the subcommittee but there have been some slight revisions in the body of the template and the headings.

Pete and I also did a short (roughly 20 minutes) recording on written testimony. It includes information about the process of written testimony and ways to customize your testimony.  If this is your first time providing written testimony, this should be a helpful resource.

You can watch the training here<https://opra-org.zoom.us/rec/share/5Hcdb7H_WTCth7bVyddSRSmP_mEQynLgGXTRKLYesoAOvYFBuY9IOygnB-w878LJ.fvjm3Uf3B59LHjar>-
Passcode: *sB1Huc!

How to provide written testimony to the House Finance Committee:

  1.  Use the attached word document as a template.
  2.  Make sure to submit testimony on your agency's letterhead.
  3.  Complete a witness slip (attached). I have already partially filled out the slip so all you have to do is fill in the remaining boxes.
  4.  Testimony must be submitted 24 hours before a hearing. The first hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28th and there will also be hearings on Wednesday and Thursday. To have you testimony included in the record next week, you must submit your testimony by Wednesday at 9am.
  5.  In your submission email please indicate you are only providing written testimony.
  6.  Send a copy of your testimony and witness slip to the email OHRFinanceCommittee@ohiohouse.gov<mailto:OHRFinanceCommittee@ohiohouse.gov>
  7.  Let Christine know when you submit testimony so we can track of Member advocacy!
Stay healthy and have a great day,

Christine

Christine Touvelle, MLS
Director of Advocacy
Ohio Provider Resource Association
O- 614-224-6772
1152 Goodale Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43212
[cid:image003.png@01D95E45.1B96EAD0]