Ohio House committee approves Ohio Workers First Act
COLUMBUS – An Ohio House committee today approved the Ohio Workers First Act, sponsored by Reps. Larry Householder and Bill Seitz.
The legislation, House Bill 380, closes a loophole that allows illegal aliens 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.
“The Ohio Workers First Act is a common-sense plan that puts Ohio workers and Ohio jobs first,” Householder said. “It sends the message that Ohio believes in the rule of law and doesn’t support illegal immigration.”
Householder said current law creates an unintended incentive for rogue businesses to hire lower cost, unskilled labor provided by illegal aliens 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 House Insurance Committee today, now awaits a vote by the full House. 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
