The Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act seeks to eliminate the subminimum wage for individuals with disabilities by prohibiting new licenses for such employment and establishing a five-year phase-out period. The bill outlines requirements for nonprofit corporations to be certified as "qualified vendors," which includes employing a minimum percentage of individuals with disabilities and providing specific health insurance benefits. Additionally, it introduces a 15% tax credit for purchases made from these qualified vendors, incentivizing support for businesses that employ people with disabilities. The director of developmental disabilities is tasked with assisting employers during this transition and reporting annually on progress towards eliminating subminimum wages.

Furthermore, the bill amends various sections of the Ohio Revised Code to enhance employee protections and clarify definitions related to minimum wage enforcement. It emphasizes employee confidentiality during compliance investigations and establishes a framework for calculating damages in anti-retaliation cases. The legislation also creates an employment first task force to improve coordination among state agencies and develop strategies for transitioning individuals from subminimum wages to competitive employment. A new nonrefundable tax credit for purchases from qualified vendors is introduced, with specific rules for claiming and carrying forward excess credits. The act aims to promote community employment for individuals with developmental disabilities and streamline the tax credit process by repealing several existing sections of the Revised Code.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4111.06, 4111.14, 5122.28, 5123.022, 5123.023, 5123.87, 5747.98, 5751.98