Unemployment Compensation Legislation, Local COVID-19 Relief Funding Heads to Governor
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) today announced the General Assembly approved House Bill 614, legislation that improves Ohio’s unemployment compensation application process. An amendment was also added that provides $650 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), 1.3 million Ohioans have filed for unemployment since March.
“It’s unacceptable that thousands of Ohioans were let down by the current unemployment compensation application process,” said Richardson, who sponsored the bill. “I appreciate the hard work of my joint sponsor, colleagues, ODJFS, subject matter experts and constituents in working collaboratively to support the bill. My hope is that this bill will ease the burden on our citizens and lead to improvements in the system.”
H.B. 614 creates the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council to evaluate the claim filing process and technological infrastructure, as well as examine ways to maximize the responsiveness for individual applicants and employers.
In addition, the Auditor of State is required to examine and make recommendations on the efficiency of the process, and the Director of ODJFS is required to create a constituent referral system and strategic staffing plan to further assist Ohioans.
The bill also contains $650 million in CARES Act funding that will be made available to counties, municipalities, and townships for expenses incurred between March 1st and the end of 2020. The aid is being distributed on a per-capita basis.
According to the legislation, local communities are eligible for up to the following amounts:
- Marion County – $2,345,675
- Union County – $2,125,676
“Our local governments are on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m grateful they will be receiving more support,” added Richardson.
The legislation contains an emergency clause and will be effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature.