Refinements to Ohio Unemployment Benefit Requirements

 Ohio HB 2, signed by Gov. Kasich in July and enhancing & expanding his earlier Workforce Development Law, creating & requiring local workforce investment areas to use OhioMeansJobs --- an electronic system for labor exchange & job placement activity operated by the state --- as the local workforce investment area's job placement system, goes into effect this coming Friday, making refinements to the state’s unemployment eligibility requirements. HB 1 was signed this past June and went into effect September 27, 2013.

  The primary focus of HB 2 is on individuals being instructed as to efforts which must be made with respect to his/her search for suitable work, including that, within six months after the effective date of this amendment, the individual shall register with OhioMeansJobs, except in specified circumstances….  (having) registered with OhioMeansJobs shall, will receive a weekly listing of available jobs based on information provided by the individual at the time of registration. For each week that the individual claims benefits, the individual shall keep a record of where and when the individual has sought work in complying with those instructions search efforts.”

Text of HB 1
Summary & Analysis, HB 1
Text HB 2
Summary & Analysis, HB 2