What to know about Senate Bill 199…
By Betsy A. Swift, Jill
K. Bigler
On
December 19, 2016, Governor Kasich signed Senate Bill 199, a controversial
gun bill that expands Ohio’s concealed carry laws. As we reported earlier this
month, under Senate Bill 199, public and private employers, business
entities and property owners may not prohibit individuals with concealed
carry licenses from transporting or storing firearms in their privately-owned
vehicles. Employers and business entities can continue to prohibit all
individuals from carrying firearms or other weapons inside their buildings.
Similarly, employers can prohibit employees from storing or carrying firearms
inside company-owned or leased vehicles.
Senate
Bill 199 also eliminates Ohio’s current ban on carrying concealed firearms in
daycare centers, aircraft and public areas of airport terminals before
security checkpoints. The bill gives public and private colleges and
universities the option to allow concealed carry firearms on campus and also
gives the state and political subdivisions the ability to enact laws that would
allow concealed carry firearms in certain government facilities.
Additionally,
under the new law, active-duty members of
the U.S. Armed Forces do not need a concealed carry license to carry a firearm
if the member is carrying valid military identification and documentation of
successful completion of specified firearms training.
Employers
and business entities alike should plan to review any policies impacted by the
new law, which will take effect Mar. 19, 2017.