FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       Friday, May 26, 2006 Contact: Jason Warner                                                                                          (614) 466-2994

Ohio House of Representatives, Senate Approve Representative Gibbs’ House Bill 150

COLUMBUS: The Ohio House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure sponsored by State Representative Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville) which modifies the inspection process for Junk Yards in the state of Ohio. The legislation, House Bill 150, was approved by the Ohio Senate on Wednesday.

“This will help protect homeowners from property devaluation from junk yard operators who don’t obey the law,” Gibbs said of the legislation. “House Bill 150 provides for law enforcement to be able to better enforce junk yard regulations and also provides ample opportunity for junk yard operators to comply with the law,” Gibbs continued.

The need for House Bill 150 was brought to the attention of Representative Gibbs by Ashland County Sheriff Wayne Risner and local township trustees. Sheriff Risner, who came to Columbus to testify in support of the legislation, noted in his testimony that the legislation will speed up what has proven to be an extremely long and difficult process to bring some junk yards into compliance with the law.

“Many times these sites have a negative affect on the environment,” Sheriff Risner said. “They diminish property values and (cause) great concern from the citizens and residents within the townships where they are located.”

House Bill 150 was approved by both the House and Senate by unanimous votes. The House had previously approved House Bill 150 in June 2005 by a vote of 92-2. With the approval of the legislation by the Ohio House and Senate, the bill now goes to the governor for his approval.