Protect Ohioans: Vote NO on HB 795 (The SHIELD Act)

I am writing to urge your NO vote on HB 795. While the goal of ensuring program integrity is shared by all Ohioans, this bill represents a fundamental failure of governance that will harm our most vulnerable neighbors while wasting taxpayer money on invasive bureaucracy. Why this bill must be rejected: - Destabilizing Independent Living: By banning family members from being paid for personal care services, HB 795 threatens to force thousands of disabled Ohioans out of their homes and into expensive, institutionalized care facilities. This is a devastating outcome for those who rely on family for trusted, consistent support, and it ultimately creates a higher, long-term cost for the state.  - Government Overreach & Surveillance: The mandate for GPS tracking and "breadcrumb" location data inside private homes is an unprecedented invasion of privacy. Treating every citizen as a suspect and every caregiver as a potential criminal is not the "small government" approach Ohioans deserve.  - Undermining Small Businesses: New, extreme regulatory hurdles and inspection mandates will drive independent home-care providers out of the market. This exacerbates the existing caregiver shortage, leaving those who truly need medical support without options. - Governance by Anecdote: This legislation is being rushed forward based on external media reports rather than rigorous, transparent state audits. Legislating based on headlines—rather than proven data—is irresponsible and risks real-world damage to families who rely on these services for their daily survival. Fiscal responsibility means supporting the most cost-effective and humane care models, not creating a massive, intrusive surveillance state that punishes the people it was designed to serve. Please reject this expansion of government power and focus on practical, evidence-based solutions that protect both the taxpayer and the dignity of Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens.