The Ohio Senate balked at mandates in a House-passed budget to provide workers’ compensation for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and to make all injured workers declare their immigration status.
With those and other policy measures stripped from the bill, the Senate voted unanimously Thursday to approve the budget of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, which is funded by employer premiums.
But minutes later House Speaker Larry Householder said his chamber will not concur with the Senate-passed bill, requiring a conference committee to reach an agreement. The Glenford Republican said he has prepared an amendment to extend the workers’ compensation existing budget for another 90 days. The current two-year budget expires Sunday.
“They pulled all of our language out,” Householder said, pointing in particular to post-traumatic stress disorder being covered for first responders.