Bill would overhaul workers’ comp agency

An effort is underway to reform and rename the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the agency focused on injured workers.

State Rep. Mike Henne, R-Clayton, announced plans Thursday to introduce a bill that would rebrand the agency, add benefits for the families of workers killed on the job and alter benefits for permanently totally disabled workers.

His proposal would rename the agency the Office of Safety and Rehabilitation to make the agency and its programs more approachable to businesses with the goal of reducing workplace injuries, Henne said.

“Really what we want is participation,” he said. “We have the programs, but most (companies) don’t look at this until there’s a loss, and then there is an injured worker and we have to pay them.”

The bill also would give families of deceased workers a $35,000 lump sum and $5,000 scholarships for eligible dependents for as many as four years.

This would be in addition to current death benefits, which include payments for burial expenses and regular wage-loss compensation.

Benefits for some permanently totally disabled employees would be decreased if the bill were to pass.

Under the current system, such workers receive two-thirds of their weekly average pay for the rest of their lives. The proposal would have those declared permanently totally disabled within 10 years of age 65 receive full benefits until 65. At that point, individuals would receive reduced compensation based on the number of years before retirement the disabling illness or injury occurred.

For example, an individual who became disabled at 57 would get full wage-loss compensation until 65. After that, he would receive 80 percent of the benefit. An individual disabled at 63 would receive full compensation until 65, and then 20 percent for the remainder of his life.

The bill is expected to receive a number sometime next week.