GUEST COLUMN BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE UECKER

Updating legislation on Workers Compensation and the Ohio Firearm Conceal Carry Law by Joe Uecker

Last week was a difficult week dealing mainly with two controversial issues, workers compensation reform and updates to the conceal/carry bill.  You often hear the phrase that “ Ohio is a great place to live, work, and raise a family”. This is often a very challenging task to make happen but last week we worked on legislation that dealt directly with improving the daily lives of most of our citizens.

Somewhat contentious at times during the committee process as well on the House floor during debate, Senate Bill 7 enacts major reforms to the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation program.  During committee testimony we heard horror stories of workers made to wait weeks for checks with nothing to live on.  We also heard stories of businesses being put out of business due to exponential premium increases.  This is not what the creators of Workers Compensation had envisioned.  I believe this new law strikes a balance between good public policy and benefiting the daily lives of all Ohioans.  These reforms make the claims process more fair and efficient for both workers and businesses.

Many important improvements were made to the legislation since its introduction. Perhaps one of the most notable to working Ohioans is the raise of our state’s minimum wage to $5.15 – a rate equal to that of the federal government. Other major benefits of the reform package include comprehensive changes aimed at reducing the amount of time an injured worker must wait to collect disability payments, the number of weeks of “non-work wage loss” benefits to match unemployment compensation and the statute of limitations for Bureau of Workers’ Compensation claims. It is with Ohio workers and families in mind, that members of the House drafted and enacted this landmark legislation. Through Senate Bill 7, we have also enabled businesses across our state to retain more employees and we have increased the wages of more than 100,000 people in Ohio . Protecting a system that both businesses and workers rely upon most has been a top priority of the past year and will remain a priority for years to come.

Senate Bill 7, which was passed by both the House and the Senate, now awaits the governor’s signature.

Another measure passed by the House in an effort to benefit and simplify the lives of every-day Ohioans is a measure that provides gun owners with a uniform law across the state. House Bill 347 addresses several concerns that have come to the surface since the state’s concealed carry law went into effect in 2004.

Under current law, a licensed gun owner who is driving must keep the firearm in clear view in a holster or a case – unless it is locked in a glove compartment. A number of legislators determined the current requirements were too cumbersome to comply with and set to work enacting legislation that clarifies the law for those who wish to carry a firearm and institutes common-sense reforms to Ohio ’s concealed carry laws.

Of utmost common sense, the bill removes the requirement that individuals transporting a firearm have it in “plain sight.” This legislation also allows off-duty law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm 24 hours a day, seven days a week and limits the period for county sheriff offices to accept applications for concealed carry permits to 15 hours each week.

Additionally, House Bill 347 increases the penalties for drunk driving with a loaded firearm in the car and for failing to inform law enforcement of the presence of a firearm during a routine traffic stop. Moreover, the bill also makes illegal aliens ineligible to obtain a concealed carry license. In passing this bill, members of the House have reaffirmed an individual Ohioan’s right to bear arms under both the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions.

Other business addressed by the House that directly affects you and your family was the updating of bicycle-related laws including safety and signaling requirements. House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia), brings bicycle laws in line with the rules of the road. This legislation prevents those on bicycle from being prohibited to ride on our state’s roadways while ensuring that the top priority of any bicycle regulations is the safety and well-being of riders.

As we continue the second half of the 126th General Assembly, we will continue to hear and enact many additional pieces of legislation you have identified as important to you, your community and our state. As I consider each of these bills I will remain committed to examining the impact on the lives and well-being of all Ohioans.

Joe Uecker

State Representative

Ohio’s 66 District

Representing Batavia, Goshen, Miami and Union Townships as well as the Cities of Loveland and Milford and the Villages of Batavia and Amelia.(614) 466-8134

District Office (513)-248-2565

Website: www.JoeUecker.com

Email: Joe@JoeUecker.com