Legislature Passes BWC Budget

Thursday, July 18, 2019 | 0

Ohio lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $320 million budget for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation that avoids controversial issues relating to coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder and questions about the immigration status of claimants.

The Dayton Daily News reports the House voted 71-13 to pass the budget bill. The Senate voted 21-9 to pass the measure and send it to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

House Bill 80 was amended in June to add language that would have allowed police, firefighters and emergency medical workers to file claims for post-traumatic stress disorder without an accompanying physical injury. Another amendment adopted in June would have required claimants to indicate whether they’re U.S. citizens.

After the House passed the bill, the Senate stripped out the PTSD and immigration provisions before voting to approve the measure. The House wouldn’t sign off on the Senate amendments, and the bill went to a conference committee.

The conference committee unanimously approved a compromise bill Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the votes by both chambers later in the afternoon, according to a report by the Columbus Dispatch.

The Dispatch reports a last-minute bid to maintain PTSD coverage for first responders failed by one vote on Wednesday.

Sen. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus, introduced an amendment that would have restored language allowing first responders to file claims for mental health conditions without accompanying physical injuries. Craig and three House members voted in favor of the amendment, but two senators voted no.

The Dispatch reports that despite the 4-2 vote, measures that go before conference committees need approval from at least two members of each chamber.

“This was a perfect opportunity to get PTSD into law,” Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio lobbyist Michael Weinman said. “This further delay is going to cost first responders their lives.”

The BWC was operating under a 30-day interim budget, as lawmakers had not approved the bill before a June 30 deadline.