The Association of Ohio Health Commissioners (AOHC) greatly appreciates Governor DeWine’s support for the health and safety of Ohioans through his veto of Senate Bill 22.
The Ohio General Assembly, in its consideration of this policy change, failed to recognize the
potential life-and-death consequences that will result from the inability of local boards of
health to act quickly to prevent and limit the spread of deadly diseases within a community and
across our state. Senate Bill 22, which proposes changes in public health authority in the state
of Ohio, undermines scientific and public health principles proven to be incontrovertibly true
for communicable disease control.
“The original intent of Senate Bill 22 was to ensure the legislature had more opportunity to
engage in the state’s emergency response decisions. This bill, however, fundamentally changes
those roles and places the lives of every Ohioan at more risk by removing and limiting the
authority of a local board of health. We ask members of the General Assembly to vote against
an override of the veto. AOHC welcomes that extended conversation of how as a public health
system we can continue to improve our response capabilities and align state and local
authorities,” stated Joe Mazzola, AOHC President and Health Commissioner of Franklin County
Public Health.
AOHC is the statewide association that represents the 113 local health departments in Ohio.
The mission of AOHC is to promote strong local public health leadership, form meaningful
relationships with local, state and federal public health stakeholders, and advocate for an
effective and efficient local governmental public health system.