COLUMBUS, Ohio - Democratic Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally alongside Republican State Representative Matthew Kishman introduced bipartisan legislation to protect call center workers in Ohio.

According to a press release, House Bill 349, also known as the Call Center Protection Act would require notification of relocation of all call centers in Ohio and disqualification of tax benefits for companies that locate jobs overseas.

Under this legislation, employers would need to notify the director of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (JFS) at least 120 days before relocating. 

Additionally, the JFS Director would have to compile a list of employers that have relocated a call center or one or more qualifying facilities or operating units within a call center from Ohio to a foreign country every six months.

The goal of the legislation is to keep career paths open for Ohioans and protect customer data.

"As a practice, government has incentivized employers to create jobs and in some cases those employers don't keep that promise," McNally said.

McNally added that the legislation will either incentivize employers to keep and maintain jobs in Ohio or recoup that government investment if they don't follow through on employing Ohio workers.

Kishman adds that with jobs being kept in Ohio, he hopes customers' frustrations with offshored call centers will be mitigated.

The bill now awaits assignment to a committee and a first hearing for further consideration.