Substitute House Bill 352 Summary

• Creates separate procedures for employment discrimination claims under new section 4112.051, requiring complainants to file charges with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission before bringing civil actions under section 4112.052

• Allows complainants to request a "notice of right to sue" from the commission to proceed directly to civil court, with specific timelines and conditions for when civil actions may be filed

• Establishes new section 4112.054 providing employers an affirmative defense against vicarious liability in hostile work environment sexual harassment cases if the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent or correct the harassment and the employee unreasonably failed to report it

• Excludes individual supervisors, managers, and employees from personal liability for employment discrimination under Chapter 4112, limiting liability to employers while preserving common law claims against individuals

• Modifies definitions in section 4112.01 to clarify "employer" means entities with four or more employees, and expands "unlawful discriminatory practice relating to employment" to include retaliation claims under new section 4112.051