COLUMBUS– State Senators Peggy Lehner (R–Kettering) and Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today jointly introduced Senate Bill 2, which aims to modernize Ohio’s efforts to match jobseekers with work.
“Ohio has made some great progress over the past two years at creating more economic opportunity for people who are out of work,” said Senator Lehner. “This legislation improves upon the success of the OhioMeansJobs program.”
Senator Lehner serves as the Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee where she has played an active role in reforming Ohio’s education system to properly prepare our young people for the workforce.
The legislation links each of the 90 One-Stop centers across Ohio that are funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act to help Ohioans find jobs and connect them with training resources. By creating the partnership between the One-Stop centers and OhioMeansJobs, all Ohioans will be encouraged to use the statewide program where they will have access to a greater number of job opportunities. As of February 2013, there are approximately 100,000 open job listings on the OhioMeansJobs site.
“The OhioMeansJobs initiative that we launched from the Statehouse last General Assembly has been highly successful in matching workers with work,” added Senator Beagle. “This bill adds to that productive initiative by linking it to the county One-Stop programs to assist a broader base of job seekers in locating opportunities in their area.”
Senator Beagle was recently tapped by Senate President Keith Faber to lead the newly formed Senate Committee on Workforce and Economic Development. Senator Beagle’s committee will be in charge of linking Ohio’s economic and workforce needs with our education and career preparation programs.
Senate Bill 2 streamlines state and local efforts in order to better serve Ohio’s jobseekers while matching growing companies with skilled Ohio workers.
# # #
