![The Ohio House in voting session on Wednesday. [Karen Kasler / Statehouse News Bureau]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/294f5ad/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2237+0+0/resize/840x466!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2019%2F06%2F734152501_1981448591.jpg)
The Ohio House overwhelmingly approved a bill giving courts options to divert those charged with drug crimes away from prison and into treatment programs.
The bill, labeled House Bill 1 to indicated its prioirity, was approved with a 90-6 vote and would expand access to programs for non-violent drug offenders for treatment instead of conviction and allow for sealing some criminal records to help them get jobs.
It now goes to the Senate, which has a competing bill still in committee. Neither measure is expected to make it to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk before the General Assembly leaves Columbus for summer recess next week.
Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) supported last year’s failed ballot issue on drug sentencing, and this year's bill as well.
“House Bill 1 gives these Ohioans a second chance to start over and have a real shot at reaching their fullest potential," Howse said in the House floor debate.
The Ohio Public Defender’s office says about 2,600 people are in prison for drug possession, and 1,600 are locked up for possessing drugs in amounts for personal use only.
Copyright 2019 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.