According to Risk & Insurance Magazine, the Ohio Senate approved a bill aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from collecting workers compensation benefits.
Lawmakers voted 21-12 to pass S.B. 238, sponsored by Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati. Ohio law permits minors and aliens to receive workers’ comp benefits but does not have statutory language in place to block illegal immigrants from receiving awards. Language already exists blocking undocumented workers from collecting unemployment and Medicaid payments. Seitz noted that the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation doesn’t require injured employees to document their status prior to receiving benefits.
Under the legislation, injured employees would be required to prove that they are legally permitted to work in the country by providing a visa or birth certificate.