An Ohio Senate committee last week heard testimony of a bill that would ensure the health information and other details that comprise the state’s Vax-A-Million database remains private.

The lottery, which was devised to improve Ohioans’ COVID-19 vaccination participation, is set tonight to make the fourth drawing of a $1 million prize for an adult and a full scholarship — including room, board, tuition and books at a state university — to minors, ages 12 to 17, who are vaccinated.

“This issue was brought to my attention while giving sponsor testimony on another bill,” said Delaware Sen. Andrew Brenner, a Republican. “I was asked, ‘Is the Vax-A-Million database private or public?’ In my testimony, I said that I thought that the database was in fact a public record because the database was created by citizens voluntarily entering their name into the database.”

He added that privacy is not necessarily protected in this database due to the fact that a participant may not have been vaccinated.

“When asked by a reporter, Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud said that she believed that the database was private because it was being maintained by the Ohio Department of Health. She went on to say that if the legislature believes that it is a public record, then we can legislatively make it private,” Brenner said. “I suggest we do so.”

Senate Bill 195 would explicitly make the information contained in the database private.

Specifically, the measure specifies that the database of individuals registered, and personal information of registered individuals contained within the database, for the Vax-A-Million campaign is confidential and is not a public record under Ohio’s Public Records Law, analysis of the bill provided.

The bill defines personal information to include the name, electronic mail address, telephone number, street address and vaccine location information of individuals who registered for the Vax-A-Million campaign, and includes the name, electronic mail address, and telephone number of a parent or guardian, the Ohio Legislative Service Commission wrote in the analysis.

Additionally, SB 195 specifies that the Vax-A-Million campaign is the campaign held in 2021 consisting of a series of statewide drawings to provide prizes to individuals who receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

“This legislation is in temporary law and only refers to the Vax-A Millions database,” Brenner noted. “It says that the database of individuals registered and their personal information contained in the database is confidential and is not a public record as defined under section 149.43 of ORC.

He said the bill would not affect the winners of the lottery. Rather, it would make private any medical and personal information volunteered by the millions of Ohioans participating in the Vax-A-Millions lottery.

“Lastly, I would just mention that the language in this bill was included in the Senate omnibus amendment, but the emergency clause in Senate Bill 195 would allow this to go into effect immediately upon passing,” he said.

The bill awaits further consideration by the Government Oversight and Reform Committee.