Reps. McNally, Kishman Introduce Call Center Protection Act

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and Matthew Kishman (R-Minerva) Monday announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 349, the Call Center Protection Act, bipartisan legislation meant to protect call center work in Ohio. This bill encourages businesses to stay in Ohio and stay in the United States of America. This bill would require notification of relocation of call centers in Ohio and disqualification of tax benefits for companies that locate jobs overseas. The goal of this legislation is to keep career paths open for Ohioans and to protect customer data.

“As a practice, government has incentivized employers to create jobs and in some cases those employers don’t keep that promise,” said Rep. McNally. “The Consumer Protection Call Center Act will either incentivize employers to keep and maintain jobs in Ohio or recoup that government investment if they don’t follow through on employing Ohio workers. Either way, it’s better for workers in Ohio.”

“When you think about it, has anyone ever had their customer service experience enhanced by being stuck on the phone with an offshored call center? With this bill, we’ll be keeping jobs in Ohio and hopefully alleviating a good deal of consumer frustration,” said Rep. Kishman.

“This is just common sense, taxpayer dollars should not be given to Companies that offshore good Ohio Call Center jobs. Several other states have already passed similar Bills in a bipartisan manner. Saving U.S. jobs and buying American is never the wrong thing to do," said Frank Mathews, Administrative Director of the Communications Workers of America District 4.

The Consumer Protection Call Center Act will:

• Require an employer that intends to relocate a call center or qualifying facilities or operating units within a call center from Ohio to a foreign country to notify the Director of Job and Family Services (JFS Director) at least 120 days before relocating;
• Require the JFS Director to compile, every six months, a list of employers that have relocated a call center or one or more qualifying facilities or operating units within a call center from Ohio to a foreign country during the preceding six months;
• Disqualify, unless an exception applies, an employer that has relocated a call center or one or more qualifying facilities or operating units within a call center from Ohio to a foreign country from receiving a grant, guaranteed loan, tax benefit, or other economic incentive from the state until five years after the relocation; and
• Require a state agency to ensure that all call center and customer service work performed for the agency is performed entirely within Ohio.

 HB 349 now awaits assignment to a committee and a first hearing for further consideration.