Senate Passes Reineke Bill Revising Ohio's Unemployment Compensation System
November 30, 2022
Bill Reineke News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) today announced the passage of Senate Bill 302 by the Ohio Senate, which revises and updates Ohio's unemployment compensation system to prevent fraud and increase its responsiveness and accuracy.
Senate Bill 302 will require that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) enter into data-sharing agreements with the Department of Taxation, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and the Department of Health in order to gather relevant information required to help determine the eligibility and veracity of unemployment applicants.
"Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of people needed financial unemployment assistance. This, in turn, put incredible strain on ODJFS’s outdated systems, opening the door for fraud and errors," Reineke said. "Senate Bill 302 will ensure that Ohioans get the support they need, but that, at the same time, our taxpayer dollars are not paid out erroneously or leaving the state or country due to fraud."
To date, Ohio has lost more than $3.8 billion in misspent payments. To prevent this, Senate Bill 302 directs ODJFS to only make disbursements to financial institutions that have a physical presence within Ohio when using direct deposit.
ODJFS will also be required to prepare and submit a report to both the Governor and the legislature summarizing unemployment compensation numbers in Ohio. For more information about Senate Bill 302, click here.
Senate Bill 302 will require that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) enter into data-sharing agreements with the Department of Taxation, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and the Department of Health in order to gather relevant information required to help determine the eligibility and veracity of unemployment applicants.
"Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of people needed financial unemployment assistance. This, in turn, put incredible strain on ODJFS’s outdated systems, opening the door for fraud and errors," Reineke said. "Senate Bill 302 will ensure that Ohioans get the support they need, but that, at the same time, our taxpayer dollars are not paid out erroneously or leaving the state or country due to fraud."
To date, Ohio has lost more than $3.8 billion in misspent payments. To prevent this, Senate Bill 302 directs ODJFS to only make disbursements to financial institutions that have a physical presence within Ohio when using direct deposit.
ODJFS will also be required to prepare and submit a report to both the Governor and the legislature summarizing unemployment compensation numbers in Ohio. For more information about Senate Bill 302, click here.