Legislation Station: Environmental and Aviation bills

Thursday morning, two bills regarding the environment and aviation were passed onto the House committees at 9:50 A.M. and 9:56 A.M., respectively, becoming one step closer to becoming official laws. 

The first bill regarding the environment allows representatives of the American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to survey, inspect, and clean the pathways of Miami University and ALBBS, as well as collect data on litter and trash to improve knowledge on the subject. 

Furthermore, ALBBS citizens are allowed to report littering to county sheriffs and the EPA, who will handle the matter with fines and possible prosecution. Justin Olchovy, of Estepp City and the Sergeant at Arms of the House, states, “The environmental committee is working on the bill to be passed.” 

Matthew Lee, of Bishop City and a House of Representatives Agricultural Committee member, positively supports the environmental bill as he noticed plastic trash and littered food on the ground on his way back from the dining hall. He encourages the rule to be enforced to prevent this from happening. Both Olchovy and Lee comment on the beauty of the campus, wanting to preserve the environment as much as possible.

The second bill regarding the aviation license creates both a standard aviation license for a payment of $20,000 and a commercial license for $50,000. The stand aviation license is a one-person vehicle, while the commercial license can transport up to three other clients with payment for their services. The licenses allow the holders to go on the grass and can be used anywhere except for inside all buildings and structures. They are to present their licenses to law enforcement, and will spin their finger to show they are flying. Seventy-five percent of the licensing fees go to the State, and twenty-five percent to the city where the license is issued.

Brady Bland, of Chapman City and a House of Representatives Jobs, Infrastructure, and Commerce Committee member, believes the legislation is vital as new traffic laws inconvenienced many lives. 

Bland notes that, “You can walk side by side when we all know that’s how you talk to people on your way to somewhere.” 

He further evaluates the bill, saying, “Even if it is not a perfect bill, it can be amended later…I believe at least the very idea of the bill is necessary.”

Carter McConnell, of Jordan City, finds the bill helpful as he says, “Some people…have to go very far and then it’s shorter for them to go through the grass.” He further supports the bill by stating how if, “you forgot something. You don’t have to…loop [all the way back] around.”

As the days in the ALBBS progress, various new bills are being introduced, rejected, or passed on. Whether the environmental and aviation-related laws become official or not, the House of Representatives, Senate, and Office of the Governor are all working hard to make ALBBS as constitutional as possible, and are gaining valuable experience.