To amend sections 3304.23 and 5502.08 of the Revised Code to expand the communication disability database to include any person with a disability, to expand access to that database through countywide 9-1-1 systems, and to name this act "Keith's Law".
HB 144, named “Keith’s Law,” would expand Ohio’s existing communication-disability database so it is no longer limited to people with a communication disability as narrowly defined, but instead includes any person diagnosed with a disability that can impair communication. The bill also directs the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency to create and post a verification form, requires public outreach about the database, and allows eligible adults, parents of minors, and guardians to submit information for inclusion or removal.
The measure also changes how the database is used in emergencies. The Department of Public Safety would continue to maintain the database, but it would be made available not only through the law enforcement automated data system, but also through countywide 9-1-1 systems so local law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel, and firefighters responding to a call can receive relevant disability information. The bill specifies that the database is not a public record and provides a process for removal by submitting a limited form.
In practical terms, the bill amends sections 3304.23 and 5502.08 of the Revised Code and broadens the categories of disabilities covered to include conditions such as intellectual disability, hearing and speech impairments, visual impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, specific learning disabilities, deaf-blindness, and mental health conditions that affect communication or interaction. It also standardizes who may complete the form and what information must be included, while preserving confidentiality.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and bipartisan. The recorded votes show overwhelming support in both chambers, with the House passing it 89-2 and the Senate passing it 32-0 after favorable committee votes. No committee testimony is provided here, but the vote totals suggest broad agreement that the bill would improve emergency response and communication with people whose disabilities may affect interactions with first responders.
The main point of contention, based on the text itself, is the breadth of the expanded definition of disabilities that can impair communication and the privacy implications of collecting and sharing personal identifying information. However, the near-unanimous votes indicate little visible opposition in the legislative record provided. The bill’s supporters appear to view it as a public-safety and accessibility measure that helps first responders better identify and assist people in crisis.
HB 144 would amend Ohio Revised Code sections 3304.23 and 5502.08 to broaden eligibility for the state’s communication-disability database, expand the information collected on the verification form, and require the database to be accessible through countywide 9-1-1 systems as well as the law enforcement automated data system. It would also require state agencies to make the form available online and conduct outreach, while keeping database information confidential and not subject to public-record disclosure. The bill would affect the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency, the Department of Public Safety, county 9-1-1 systems, and first responders who may use the database during emergency calls.
The bill’s legislative history shows strong support and little visible opposition. It received favorable committee action in both chambers and passed the House 89-2 and the Senate 32-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement. The available record suggests the bill was viewed positively as a public-safety and accessibility measure intended to help first responders communicate more effectively with people who have disabilities that can affect communication.
The primary substantive issues raised by the bill’s text are the scope of the expanded disability definition and the handling of sensitive personal information. Expanding the database from a communication-disability framework to any disability that can impair communication could raise questions about eligibility, administration, and privacy. The bill addresses confidentiality by making the database nonpublic and allowing removal, but those safeguards may still be the main area of concern for privacy advocates or those wary of broader data collection. The voting record, however, suggests these concerns did not generate significant opposition in the General Assembly.