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State Representative Jim Buchy
A BWC Budget
That Saves Ohioans Dollars
As we continue to move forward with the budget process here in the Ohio
House, I wanted to highlight two of our budget bills that I am
particularly proud of. House Bills 51 and 52, which are the budget
bills for the Ohio Industrial Commission and the Bureau of Workers’
Compensation, respectively, include decreases that will save taxpayer
dollars while still providing crucial services.
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is responsible for providing
workers' compensation insurance coverage for employers and employees in
our state. The BWC works in tandem with the Ohio Industrial Commission,
which provides a forum for appealing BWC and self-insured employer
decisions.
I am proud to see sound money management practices at work in these two
bills, as both agencies were able to decrease their budgets. HB 52, the
BWC bill, included a $6.9 million dollar decrease. Public employers
could see the lowest rates in more than thirty years, nearly 20 percent
lower than in 2011.
This also amplifies the savings for Ohio’s businesses, accounting for
billions returned in rebates from the BWC. Reducing insurance costs,
which are a major impact in the overall cost to run a business in Ohio,
is a huge boost to economic growth in our state. Giving our businesses
the ability to protect their valuable employees while saving money,
gives us an edge in national competitiveness.
Among other changes, this budget removes a long-term care loan program
and allows the Safety Intervention Grant Program to provide the same
service, removes the mandate for volunteers and corporate officers at
nonprofits to have workers’ compensation insurance, removes an outdated
law that required the division of safety and hygiene to always employ
six persons, and removes other optional programs that are no longer
being utilized by self-insured employers.
I commend the leadership of these agencies for their efforts to
practice fiscal responsibility while continuing to provide a very high
level of care for those they service. The advancements we see in BWC
and OIC practices will result in continued job growth in our state,
something I am obviously very passionate about.
Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this
month by completing an online survey at http://tinyurl/buchyapril2015
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