Unemployment Bills Remain Unfinished as Lawmakers Break for Summer

Before the Ohio House and Senate adjourned for summer break, lawmakers took steps to address the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) funding woes. Despite some action in both chambers, nothing is headed to the governor’s desk until at least this fall.

As reported last week, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Joint Resolution 4 to authorize bonding as an alternative to borrowing from the federal government when Ohio’s UI fund has been exhausted. The OMA is a proponent of the measure, but it may not be taken up in the House as Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) has told reporters that leaders are trying to determine whether this is a change that can be made statutorily — that is, without asking voters.

Also sidelined for the time being is House Bill 614 — which would create a council to review the administration of the UI system — and Senate Bill 282, which would allow employers to report that an applicant for (or a recipient of) UI benefits has failed to meet the non-monetary requirements for benefit eligibility. 6/15/2020