MICHAEL D.

DOVILLA
7TH DISTRICT
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POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT,
CHAIRMAN

FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS

HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS


VERN RIFFE CENTER
77 SOUTH HIGH STREET, 13
TH
FLOOR
COLUMBUS, OH 43215-6111
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T: (614) 466-4895
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F: (614) 719-6957
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REP07@OHIOHOUSE.GOV


Ohio General Assembly
House of Representatives
Columbus
For Immediate Release: Contact: Chris Ventura
June 5, 2014 (614) 466-4895

Representatives Dovilla and Pelanda Announce Passage of Legislation
Supporting Ohios Beekeepers

COLUMBUSState Representatives Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Dorthy Pelanda (R-
Marysville) today applauded the unanimous passage of House Bill 474, legislation designed
to support Ohios beekeepers through the creation of the Ohio State Beekeepers
Association license plate fund.

I am gratified by the scores of Ohio small business owners and beekeepers who have
testified in support of this bill, said Dovilla. Agriculture is Ohios number one industry,
and our states beekeepers play a vital role in crop development. Cuyahoga County, and
greater Cleveland in particular have some of the most active beekeepers and associations
in our state who work to educate future beekeepers.

The license plate fund established in House Bill 474 is designed to assist in promoting
beekeeping, providing educational information about beekeeping, and supporting state and
local beekeeping programs and research.

An estimated 30 percent of the food that North Americans consume is produced from bee-
pollinated plant life. Bees also pollinate the food consumed by cattle, thus making
apiculture a critical component to our meat and dairy industries, said Rep.
Pelanda. However, our American beekeeping industry has been suffering from changing
weather patterns and colony collapse disorder. The beekeeper license plate is a means of
recognizing the importance of this industry to our economy, and to our daily sustenance.

Ohio has almost 4,400 registered beekeepers supervising more than 37,000 colonies across
the state.

House Bill 474 will now head to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

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