Am. Sub. H.B. 443

126th General Assembly

(S. Environment and Natural Resources)

 

 

Increases the general severance tax on coal from 7¢ per ton to 10¢ per ton rather than to 10.6¢ per ton as in the bill as passed by the House of Representatives, establishes an additional coal severance tax of 1.2¢ per ton of coal mined by surface mining methods, requires revenues from the additional coal severance tax to be credited to the existing Unreclaimed Lands Fund, and applies the bill's effective date of April 1, 2007, for its severance tax provisions to the additional tax.

Corrects cross-references inadvertently omitted from an amendment concerning acid mine drainage that was adopted by the House of Representatives.

Exempts certain utility vehicles used exclusively within state park boundaries by park employees or volunteers from registration and license taxes, certificate of title motor vehicle law, driver's license laws, and motor vehicle dealer law.

Prohibits a school district or educational service center, community school, or nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes standards and an employee of such a district, center, or school from purchasing mercury or a mercury-added measuring device for classroom use.

Generally prohibits a manufacturer from offering a mercury-containing thermometer for sale or distribution in Ohio, but creates an exception for the purchase of such a thermometer pursuant to a prescription.

Prohibits the sale or distribution of mercury-added novelties.

Prohibits the sale or installation of mercury-containing thermostats in Ohio unless the mercury-containing thermostat is installed in the residence of a visually impaired person or the thermostat is used to sense and control temperatures as a part of a manufacturing process.

Establishes penalties for violation of the bill's mercury provisions.

Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to administer laws pertaining to products containing mercury, and grants the Director of Environmental Protection the authority to field written complaints from aggrieved or adversely affected persons or from state or local officers regarding alleged violations of the bill's mercury provisions.

 

 

 

H0443a-126.doc/ar                                                                                                  12/19/2006