Six different laws were passed back in the 1990s to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Some 20 years later, a bipartisan coalition called the Ohio Health Modernization Movement is calling those laws outdated, as they reflect penalties attached to stigmas.

"If you find out we're HIV positive and we do not disclose our status, we will get felony assault charges on us," said Olga Irwin, a founding member of the Ohio Health Modernization.

Irwin says these laws don't include scientific findings over the years, that debunk myths on how transmission actually happens.

For example, the group cites spitting on someone would be punishable by a fine of $2500 and 6-12 months in prison for a person without the infection.

However, those with the infection, engaging in the exact same behavior, would have to pay up to $10,000 in fines and 1-3 years in prison. Spitting is not an HIV transmission risk.

"Once a person's taking their meds, and the meds are taking effect, they become undetectable, which means there's no way the virus is transmittable to anybody anyhow," said Irwin.

Irwin says she lives with HIV, but her husband has been negative for 27 years.

"We found out my status one, two years into our marriage and I'm the proof that once you're on your meds, it's not, you know, not transmittable," she said. 

House Bills 498 and 513 have been proposed to remove those criminal offenses, also related to donating blood. Irwin says she wants to be able to give blood to a family member who might need it, without being prosecuted.

Irwin continues, these laws have made life difficult for her.

"I have to disclose my status all the time, wherever I'm at," said Irwin. "If a person finds out I'm HIV positive later without disclosing my status, even for what they thought was a sexual touch, like if on an arm a knee or something like that, they could try to prosecute me," which is something Irwin says has happened to her twice already.

Irwin says she would have to register as a sex offender in some cases, if she's convicted.

"Which means I'm not 500 feet from kids. I will not be able to get a job nowhere, I will not be able to rent on anybody's leases or anything because all they see is the assault. They don't care what the assault, you know, you know, the felony offense, they don't care," she said.

Irwin is also worried about her safety when it comes to obeying these laws.

"It's so unsafe in some areas for us to disclose our status. If we have syphilis, we don't have to disclose our status if we have cancer or diabetes and right now, HIV with treatment is almost like diabetes. You know, as long as you treat yourself, you're, you're healthy and everything, but you always gotta put yourself at risk with that disclosure of your safety and your privacy," said Irwin.

The bills currently sit in the House. They'll have to get through the Senate and then to the Governor's desk before those changes can be signed into law.