Thursday, March 25, 2010
By MARC KOVAC
mkovac@dixcom.com
COLUMBUS
The Ohio Senate passed legislation with a number of provisions aimed at assisting veterans, including the implementing of language for voter-approved bonuses for those who have served during military conflicts in the Middle East.
House Bill 48 passed on a final vote of 32-0 Wednesday, and the House later concurred with amendments added by the Senate, sending the legislation to Gov. Ted Strickland for his signature.
The legislation originally focused on one issue: providing two weeks of unpaid leave for spouses and parents of men and women serving in the military who are being deployed or who are wounded or hospitalized while on active duty.
That provision would require employers to allow up to 10 days or 80 hours of leave per calendar year. Covered employees would have to give notice 14 days before taking leave; employers would not have to pay salaries or wages, but they would have to continue benefits during their absence.
During Senate deliberations, provisions were added to implement the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act in Ohio, providing quicker access to absentee ballots for service men and women.
Additionally, the Senate amended the House bill to include implementing language for the veterans bonus program approved by voters.
In November, voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing the state to borrow up to $200 million to pay cash bonuses to Ohio military men and women who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq — those serving in current conflicts in the area, plus those involved in Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s.
Veterans will be paid $100 per month, up to $1,000, for time served in those areas, or $50 a month, up to $500, for those serving in the military at the time in other locations. Families of veterans who died in action will be eligible for a $5,000 death benefit.
Sign-ups for the bonus payments are expected to be ready by late summer, with initial checks sent to recipients before the end of the year.