H. B. No. 371 As Introduced

Representatives Buehrer, Trakas, Raussen, Gibbs, McGregor, J., Uecker, Reidelbach, Brinkman, Combs, Faber, White, Schaffer, Hagan, Wagoner, Hughes, Oelslager, Hood, Fessler, Fende, Allen, Perry, Yuko, Bubp

A BILL

To create the Fuel Production Task Force to study 1
opportunities for and barriers to increasing fuel 2
production in this state and to declare an 3
emergency. 4

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. (A) There is hereby created the Fuel Production 5
Task Force consisting of the following twelve members: 6

       (1) Three members of the House of Representatives, two 7
members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 8
who are members of the majority party and one member appointed by 9
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives who is a 10
member of the minority party; 11

       (2) Three members of the Senate, two members appointed by the 12
President of the Senate who are members of the majority party and 13
one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate who is a 14
member of the minority party; 15

       (3) The Director of Environmental Protection or the 16
Director's designee; 17

       (4) The Director of Development or the Director's designee; 18

       (5) Two members representing the public, one member appointed 19
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one member 20
appointed by the President of the Senate; 21

       (6) One member representing farmers, appointed by the 22
Governor from a list of names provided by the Ohio Farm Bureau; 23

       (7) One member representing the petroleum industry, appointed 24
by the Governor from a list of names provided by the Ohio 25
Petroleum Council. 26

       (B) Appointments to the Task Force shall be made not later 27
than thirty days after the effective date of this act. The members 28
of the Task Force shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson 29
from among its members. 30

       The members of the Task Force shall serve without 31
compensation. Serving as a member of the Task Force does not 32
constitute holding a public office or position of employment under 33
the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal 34
of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of 35
employment. 36

       The Task Force shall meet as often as necessary to carry out 37
its duties and responsibilities. 38

       (C) The Task Force shall study opportunities for and barriers 39
to increasing the number of refineries and to increasing fuel 40
production from agricultural products in this state in order to 41
maximize the fuel supply and to create jobs for its citizens. 42

       Not later than one hundred eighty days after the appointment 43
of the members, the Task Force shall prepare and submit a report 44
of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker 45
and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the 46
President and Minority Leader of the Senate. On submission of the 47
report, the Task Force shall cease to exist. 48

       Section 2. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency 49
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public 50
peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that 51
the high energy use in the state, the steeply rising fuel prices, 52
and the lack of refining capacity have a negative impact on the 53
economic growth in this state. Therefore, this act shall go into 54
immediate effect. 55

Section 1. (A) There is hereby created the Fuel Production	5
Task Force consisting of the following twelve members:	6

(1) Three members of the House of Representatives, two	7
members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives	8
who are members of the majority party and one member appointed by	9
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives who is a	10
member of the minority party;	11

(2) Three members of the Senate, two members appointed by the	12
President of the Senate who are members of the majority party and	13
one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate who is a	14
member of the minority party;	15

(3) The Director of Environmental Protection or the	16
Director's designee;	17

(5) Two members representing the public, one member appointed	19
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one member	20
appointed by the President of the Senate;	21

(6) One member representing farmers, appointed by the	22
Governor from a list of names provided by the Ohio Farm Bureau;	23

(7) One member representing the petroleum industry, appointed	24
by the Governor from a list of names provided by the Ohio	25
Petroleum Council.	26

(B) Appointments to the Task Force shall be made not later	27
than thirty days after the effective date of this act. The members	28
of the Task Force shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson	29
from among its members.	30

The members of the Task Force shall serve without	31
compensation. Serving as a member of the Task Force does not	32
constitute holding a public office or position of employment under	33
the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal	34
of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of	35
employment.	36

The Task Force shall meet as often as necessary to carry out	37
its duties and responsibilities.	38

(C) The Task Force shall study opportunities for and barriers	39
to increasing the number of refineries and to increasing fuel	40
production from agricultural products in this state in order to	41
maximize the fuel supply and to create jobs for its citizens.	42

Not later than one hundred eighty days after the appointment	43
of the members, the Task Force shall prepare and submit a report	44
of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker	45
and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the	46
President and Minority Leader of the Senate. On submission of the	47
report, the Task Force shall cease to exist.	48

Section 2. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency	49
measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public	50
peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that	51
the high energy use in the state, the steeply rising fuel prices,	52
and the lack of refining capacity have a negative impact on the	53
economic growth in this state. Therefore, this act shall go into	54
immediate effect.	55