HB 27 Summary

• Appropriations for Bureau of Workers' Compensation: Allocates $290.6 million for fiscal years 2018-2019 across multiple dedicated funds, including claims management, fraud prevention, administrative services, and safety/hygiene programs.

• Public Employer Medical Examination Costs: Prohibits public employers from requiring employees to pay for mandatory medical examinations as a condition of continued employment.

• Workers' Compensation Law Amendments: Modifies multiple sections of Ohio's workers' compensation code affecting disability benefits, occupational disease presumptions for firefighters/police officers, claim filing deadlines, and professional employer organization requirements.

• Safety and Hygiene Funding: Directs $22 million annually for safety operations, $15 million for safety grants, and $6 million for health and wellness initiatives from the State Insurance Fund.

• Effective Date Provisions: Most substantive changes take effect on the 91st day after filing (subject to referendum), while appropriations take effect immediately upon enactment.