Bill seeks to cut Ohio unemployment

One Ohio lawmaker has recently proposed legislation to cut the maximum number of weeks that a person can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks — or, roughly, from about six months down to a little less than five months. House Bill 376 was proposed by state Rep. Michelle Teska, R-Clearcreek Township, and is co-sponsored by 12 Republican representatives. All issues related to unemployment benefits are currently handled by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services with payment amounts based on an applicant's past wages and current income, as well as whether the person has dependents. Under current state law, to qualify for unemployment benefits, individuals must meet the following requirements, according to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services: • Applicants must have worked at least 20 weeks and earned an average weekly wage of at least $338 in the 12- to 18-month period before filling out the application. • Applicants must be unemployed due to no fault of their own, such as being laid off, leaving due to unsafe work conditions, etc. • Applicants must be able and available to work. Based on a reading of the bill, it did not appear that any of the current system's requirements were altered except for the number of weeks of unemployment collection being reduced. Bill Teets, communications director for the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, said that the department is aware of the new legislation and will continue to follow it. "We don't have any thoughts or additional information on it at this time," Teets said. Emails sent to state Rep. Kellie Deeter, R-Norwalk, and D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, for comment on the bill were not answered by deadline. Neither was listed among the bill's co-sponsors. House Bill 376 was introduced to the Ohio House on June 23. It is unclear if and when a hearing could be scheduled for the bill.