Senate Strips PTSD, Immigration Requirements From Comp Budget Bill

Monday, July 1, 2019 | 0

Major differences between Senate and House versions of a budget bill for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has thrown the bill and the funding for the agency into question, with just two days left before a constitutional deadline.

Rep. Larry Householder

The Ohio Senate on Thursday stripped out a number of controversial policy changes that had been added to the budget bill in the House of Representatives, including a requirement that injured workers indicate their immigration and work status when filing a claim, and that mental stress would be compensable for first responders, according to an Ohio news report.

Republican House Speaker Larry Householder said his chamber would not agree to the Senate changes, meaning the bill must go to a conference committee to consider a compromise. But with a Monday deadline by which the governor must review any budget bills, it's likely that lawmakers will have to adopt a temporary measure to extend funding for the comp agency for 90 days, Householder said.

The $320 million budget bill is something of a formality for the state-run compensation system in Ohio. Administrative funding comes from an assessment on insurance policies and interest from investments. But lawmakers must still approve the mechanism, and this year, the House took the opportunity to add several policy amendments.

The immigration requirement gained attention around the country, and business groups and municipalities have questioned the cost of providing coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder in public safety workers.