HB 67, Veterinarian Student Debt Reduction for Charitable Services — Proponent Testimony by Beth Sheehan (May 20, 2020)

Summary

Proponent testimony by Beth Sheehan, dated May 20, 2020, to the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee on HB 67, the Veterinarian Student Debt Reduction for Charitable Services bill. Beth Sheehan states that she is a Hamilton County resident representing a coalition of dog and cat advocates and Ohio voters, and that she has participated in six hearings on the bill in the last three and a half years. She asks the committee to change one item: add language to verify the 12 hours of charitable services by a list of services with dates and descriptions and signed verification from the agencies. A footnote lists the organizations in the coalition.

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Full text

          Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee
           HB 67, Veterinarian Student Debt Reduction
                        for Charitable Services
              Proponent Testimony by Beth Sheehan
                          May 20, 2020

Good morning, Chair Manning, Vice Chair Dean, Ranking Member
Lepore-Hagan, and distinguished members of the Ohio House
Commerce and Labor Committee.

I am Beth Sheehan, a Hamilton County resident, who stands before you
today, representing a broad, grassroots coalition of dog and cat
advocates and engaged, Ohio voters,1 who enthusiastically support the
passage of HB 67, the Veterinarian Student Debt Reduction for
Charitable Services bill.

I have participated in six hearings on this bill in the last three and a half
years. I ask you to tweak only one item in order to ensure future
transparency and accountability.

I suggest adding language to verify the 12 hours of charitable services
(not simply self-attest by checking a box, as the bill now supports) by
the applicant providing a list of such services rendered, including dates
and descriptions, and having signed verification from the agencies
where the charitable services were performed.

This bill is a home run for Ohio veterinarians, advocates, and low-
income families! It has no cost, is voluntary, no burdensome
regulations, saves animal lives, saves taxpayer money, especially in
rural counties with limited funds, provides vets the unique opportunity to
engage in shelter medicine (which is only briefly covered in veterinary
school).

With the passage of HB 67, we recognize the compassionate, altruistic
work of our veterinarians; we hasten fiscal efficiency in our county
governments; we attain a higher standard of humanity for ourselves.

I am pleased to now answer your questions.
1 AARF Radio Ohio; Angels for Animals; Animal Pawtectors; Ashtabula County Animal Protective


League; The Black Dog Food Pantry; Dogs Unlimited; Fairfield County CARES (Citizens for

Animal Rights and Ethical Standards); Falcon Animal Rescue; Family Puppy Boycott-Puppy Mill

Awareness of NW Ohio; Harrison County Dog Pound Volunteers; Hartman’s Hounds; Friends of

Fido MCDP; Heaven Can Wait; Humane Society of Richland County; Joseph’s Legacy; Justice

for Herbie; Kecia Mathys; Max’s Animal Mission; National Animal Shelter Volunteers; Never

Muzzled; Nitro’s Ohio Army; North Coast Boxer Rescue; Ohio American Eskimo Rescue; Ohio

Coalition of Dog Advocates; One of a Kind Pet Rescue; Our Mission Dog Rescue; Paws and the

Law; Pawz 2 Adopt, Austintown; Peppermint Pig Animal Rescue; A Perfect Match; Pinealope

Animal Rescue; Rescue Village; Rose’s Rescue; Ross County Humane Society; Safe Harbor

Animal Rescue, Vermillion; Sanctuary for Senior Dogs; Save Ohio Strays; Soul Connections of

Central Ohio; Summit County Shelter; TNR of Warren, Inc.; Tuscarawas County Humane
Society; Underdog Society of Knox County; Vote 4 Animals Help Chained Dogs, Dayton; West

Side Cats, and 911 Dog Rescue Inc. / Amy’s Adoptables,
1


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