Sen. Manning seeks state workers’ compensation for Task Force 1 deployments in Ohio

Sen. Manning presented sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 343, which would make the state responsible for workers’ compensation claims for designated urban search and rescue teams (Task Force 1) when they respond to emergencies in Ohio, rather than leaving claims with the local municipality.

Manning said Task Force 1 operates under the federal FEMA urban search and rescue system and has been deployed rarely in Ohio; he said the bill is intended to simplify claims handling for first responders and reduce disputes at the municipal level. "This simply just changes it to running it through the state," he told the committee, and he said the fiscal impact should be minimal given historically infrequent in‑state deployments.

Sen. Patton spoke in support, citing similar issues in firefighter presumptive cancer claims and expressing concern that local governments sometimes prolong appeals to avoid rate increases. Patton said shifting claims to the state would spare deployed personnel lengthy local appeals and repeated litigation. The committee took no further action at the hearing.