H.B. 618 Summary: Need Ohio Working (NOW) Act

• Any special or standing order by the Governor or Department of Health for preventing contagious or infectious diseases requires General Assembly approval to have legal effect; otherwise orders are advisory only.

• Director of Health cannot take action to control or suppress contagious or infectious diseases, epidemics, pandemics, or endemic conditions without General Assembly approval.

• No order issued by the Governor, Department of Health, or local boards of health may affect the conduct of an election.

• Elections may only be postponed during emergencies resulting from enemy attack for a period not exceeding six months; elections cannot be postponed, canceled, or conducted in any manner other than prescribed by law under any other circumstance.

• Any existing Governor or Department of Health orders for preventing contagious or infectious diseases become advisory only and have no legal effect upon the act's effective date.