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This week on "The State of Ohio": State lawmakers consider what they can do in the wake of the horrible and yet miraculous escape story out of Cleveland involving three women held prisoner in a house for a decade. New data shows more than half of all violent crimes are committed by a very small numbers of offenders. Lawmakers are now working to target that tiny group. And more thoughts on legislation that would dramatically change rules on unions in Ohio.
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| Tragedies involving two child deaths prompt lawmaker to consider toughening laws on children in cars. |
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By Bill Cohen - March 13, 2009 |
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An Ohio legislator wants to make it easier for prosecutors to charge parents who leave their toddlers and infants, unattended, in cars. Republican Tom Niehaus is the number two man in the Ohio Senate. He's introduced a crackdown bill, and it's scheduled for its first committee hearing on Wednesday. In an interview with statehouse correspondent, Niehaus says two tragedies --- one in 2007 and one in 2008 --- prompted him to propose the change. |
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Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) with Bill Cohen (:42) 
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| Niehaus says a rewrite of current law could help further define the word "negligence," a key factor in prosecutions. He admits even if his proposal had been state law two years ago, it might not have made prosecution of the parents whose children died a sure thing. Still, he says the bill is important because it will spark debate on the issue, clarify current law, and give prosecutors another tool to fight child neglect. |
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