Ohio senator says no to workers comp for illegals

COLUMBUS -- A Republican state senator in Ohio wants to prohibit the nation's largest state-run injured worker insurance program from providing benefits to illegal immigrants.

State Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati says he was shocked to learn during a recent committee meeting that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation doesn't require injured workers to document their status before providing benefits.

Seitz is preparing a bill and says the change would help the workers' compensation system spend less money, and lower premiums for businesses. But he acknowledges there is no way to determine how much because it's unknown how many illegal immigrants are currently served.

Laws in many states allow injured illegal immigrants to receive benefits. Some, such as Florida, specifically prohibit it.

By STEPHEN MAJORS
Associated Press Writer