North Summit News

COLUMBUS—In support of U.S. military personnel and in advance of Memorial Day, the Ohio Senate today passed Senate Bills 208 and 225, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson).

Senate Bill 208 mandates that Ohio public school districts create an exception in their open enrollment policies for students whose parents are active-duty U.S. military members. Military families typically relocate every 2-3 years, often moving to a new state after the school year has started, which can impact children's enrollment into new school districts.

"This legislation was brought to me by the office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense and is one small way that we can express our gratitude to those who serve our country in the U.S. Armed Forces," said Roegner.

Senate Bill 225 designates September 22nd each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day." This legislation builds upon efforts made in 2019 to designate the first Saturday of May as "Veterans Suicide Awareness Day," aligning the date with National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September.

"Each day 16-22 veterans take their own life in the United States. Veteran suicide rates are more than double their non-veteran counterparts," said Roegner. "This is a heartbreaking statistic and we must grow prevention efforts for these brave men and women who have stepped up to serve in our nation's armed forces."

These bills now head to the Ohio House for consideration.