COLUMBUS — State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) voted in favor of House Bill 338, also known as Andy’s Law, a sweeping public-safety bill aimed at increasing protections for correctional facility employees and reducing drug trafficking and possession within Ohio prisons.
The legislation was drafted in response to the tragic killing of correctional officer Andrew Lansing, who was murdered by an inmate at the Ross Correctional Institution on Christmas Day in 2024. Lansing’s death sparked calls for stronger safeguards for those working inside Ohio’s correctional facilities.
“Earlier this year I toured the Lucasville prison with our union and listened directly to correction officers who face real dangers every day,” Rep. Pizzulli said. “I’m encouraged to see Ohio moving forward with stronger protections for the people who serve in our prisons.”
Key Provisions of House Bill 338
The bill includes multiple reforms intended to deter violence, reduce contraband and improve safety for correction staff:
- Life without parole for inmates who murder an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) or Department of Youth Services (DYS) employee.
- A mandatory 7-year consecutive sentence for inmates who commit felonious assault against correction or youth services employees.
- A mandatory 3-year sentence for inmates who assault employees by throwing bodily fluids.
- Authority for supervisors and higher-ranking prison staff to detain individuals attempting to smuggle contraband or supply drugs to inmates.
- A requirement that all Level 3 and 4 prisons employ drug-sniffing K-9 units within two years, with lower-level facilities following within five years.
- Implementation of no-contact visitation at all Level 3 and 4 institutions to limit contraband flow.
House Bill 338 now moves to the Ohio Senate for additional review and consideration.
