First Senate Hearing Held on BWC Bill

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Ohio Senate held sponsor testimony on House Bill 81. As originally introduced, the bill would have provided corrections officers with workers’ compensation coverage when exposed to bodily fluids on the job. The House amended the bill to allow for several other new workers’ compensation provisions including: reducing the statute of limitations for violations of a specific safety rule (VSSR) from two years to one year; increasing funeral expenses; settlement changes; continuing jurisdiction changes; and clarifying the voluntary abandonment doctrine. Overall, the bill is a positive for manufacturers. 1/30/2020