Ohio Senate strips PTSD coverage for first responders from workers’ comp budget
By: Randy Ludlow, Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — The Ohio Senate balked at mandates in a House-passed budget to provide workers’ compensation for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 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, meaning that a conference committee will have to reach an agreement. The Glenford Republican said he has prepared an amendment to extend the budget of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for 90 days beyond Sunday’s expiration of its two-year budget.
