Employment Discrimation Reform Bill Gets First Hearing

Senator Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) provided sponsor testimony this week on OMA-supported Senate Bill 268.  The bill proposes to comprehensively overhaul Ohio’s employment discrimination statues in a manner benefiting employers and bringing Ohio’s laws more in line with federal discrimination laws, while continuing to provide individuals avenues to assert discrimination violations.

Senator Seitz stated in his testimony, “Drastically differing state and federal laws create an administrative burden for employers and human resource professionals. Shaping Ohio law to mirror federal law will create greater predictability in matters of workplace discrimination for both employers and employees.”

OMA counsel Betsy Swift and Jill Bigler of Bricker & Eckler have highlighted the key provisions in this summary.