Ohio House approves Ohio Workers First Act
COLUMBUS – The Ohio House approved today the Ohio Workers First Act, sponsored by Reps. Larry Householder and Bill Seitz.
The legislation, House Bill 380, closes a loophole that allows undocumented workers to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Householder (R-Glenford) said the bill protects Ohio jobs by protecting the benefits of Ohio workers, and it encourages businesses to hire Ohioans.
“We were all sent here by Ohio citizens to serve Ohio’s citizens. It’s high time we start doing that in this chamber” Householder said.
Householder said current law creates an unintended incentive for rogue businesses to hire lower cost unskilled labor provided by undocumented workers because illegal workers injured on the job are the financial responsibility of Ohio’s workers’ compensation system – not the responsibility of the business which broke the rules and hired them in the first place.
“Ohioans have a right to expect that their government will look out for their interests, and that’s especially true when it comes to jobs,” said Householder.
The legislation, which was approved by the Ohio House today by a vote of 62-30, will now be sent to the Ohio Senate. The House previously approved similar legislation as part of its version of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation budget, House Bill 27, but it was removed by the Ohio Senate.
Category: Government
