Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute commented on the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 131, universal occupational license recognition, and improvements to the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) program included in Ohio House Bill 45.

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, commented on the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 131.

“With the passage of The Buckeye Institute-championed universal occupational license recognition, the Ohio General Assembly has advanced critical reforms that will make it easier for qualified workers, who want to make Ohio their home, to start earning a living. These reforms are an integral component to modernizing Ohio’s outdated economic system. With Governor DeWine’s signature, Senate Bill 131 will help ease worker shortages and encourage skilled workers to pursue their careers and professions in the Buckeye State.”

Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, commented on Buckeye-inspired improvements to the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment program included in Ohio House Bill 45.

“Ohio families struggling to overcome the historic learning loss suffered in the wake of the pandemic are about to get an early Christmas gift. The Ohio General Assembly has embraced several Buckeye Institute-inspired improvements to the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) program, which puts resources directly into the hands of families so they can purchase the education services their children need. The improvements include increasing the amount available to eligible students from $500 to $1,000 and increasing the eligibility threshold for families from 300 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

“These improvements will help ensure that Ohio’s K-12 students can get the help they need to succeed at school.”

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