Found this one at an industry blog that I read. Apparently it's fallout from the fight last year with JCJ over the release of a list of their employees' names.
http://www.athensmessenger.com/...eID=5344&TM=13027.44 Proposed law focuses on carnival employees
ELIZABETH GOUSSETIS
Messenger staff writer
A new law targeting employees of carnival companies may be the effect of a power struggle between the Athens County prosecutor and the owner of the company that provided rides and concessions at the 2006 county fair.
State Rep. Jimmy Stewart , whose 92nd District includes Athens County, introduced the bill and provided sponsor testimony to a House committee Wednesday. Stewart said he worked with County Prosecutor C. David Warren on the bill, which would require carnival owners to agree that they will provide the names of all carnival workers to local law enforcement if asked. Operators would need to agree to this in order to get a concession license in Ohio.
Such a law might have prevented the legal battle between Warren and Vicky Genright, operator of JCJ Amusements, the Florida company which provides concessions for the Athens County Fair. Warren approached Genright during the 2006 fair and asked for the names and Social Security numbers of all the JCJ employees, so he could check for outstanding warrants, according to documents filed in that case. Genright refused, arguing Warren had no right to the information, but eventually complied after being subpoenaed to a grand jury.
The bill would require operators to provide names and addresses to law enforcement within 48 hours, Stewart said Friday. However, the proposed law does not require that law enforcement ask for the information; Stewart said it would be their call.
Warren said that he identified 10 employees with fake Social Security numbers, several who were on parole and two with outstanding warrants when he checked on the amusement company employees in 2006. That information came three days after the carnival left town, too late for him to act on it, Warren said.
Because the carnies camp out all week during the fair or at other events near schools, Warren said he should be able to run background checks to see if any are sexual predators, and added that those who have outstanding warrants can be arrested, or the fair board could have them removed. Warren said the law would also allow the fair board to protect itself from civil liability.
Another hearing will take place soon with the House’s civil and commerce law committee, Stewart and Warren both said, and Warren will testify to the committee at the hearing.
egoussetis@athensmessenger.com
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