On Wednesday, the Ohio House passed this biennium’s workers’ compensation budget containing several pro-business amendments. The legislation – House Bill 75 (HB 75) – now moves to the Ohio Senate with broad bi-partisan support after leaving the House with a vote of 92-2.

The budget bill includes three amendments supported by the Ohio Chamber that will create greater uniformity and efficiency within the state’s workers’ compensation system. These pro-business reforms will:

• Lower the statute of limitation for filing an occupational disease claim from two years to one year;
• Require claimants who had previously been denied an award for permanent total disability to show new and changed circumstances when re-filing their application;
• Prevent claimants from filing for permanent partial disability when they are currently receiving a wage continuation benefit.

The Ohio Chamber testified in support of HB 75 and made it a key vote on our Free Enterprise Index because of the positive impact it will have on the business climate in the Buckeye State.

Moving the statute of limitation to one year for occupational disease means all types of workers’ compensation claims that may be filed will have the same one year time frame to initiate a claim. This increased uniformity brings greater clarity for employers and employees alike about when a workers’ compensation claim must be brought.

The other changes in HB 75 will prevent individuals from filing the exact same previously denied application for lifetime benefits multiple times and create parity between two possible time off benefits offered for injured workers.

The Ohio Chamber will now shift our efforts to the Ohio Senate where we will urge quick passage of HB 75 before the June 30 constitutional deadline.