Dear Speaker Huffman and President McColley,

On behalf of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Business Roundtable, Fraternal
Order of Police of Ohio, and the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, we want to inform you of a significant collaborative effort currently underway. The four organizations are meeting to find viable solutions to provide our dedicated first responders with coverage for Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) that is outside of the state’s workers’ compensation system.

This joint initiative stems from our shared commitment to the well-being of first
responders and to protecting Ohio’s businesses from potential future cost increases. While we have not yet made final decisions on a proposed plan, we are confident there is the necessary buy-in from each organization’s leadership to reach an agreement that honors our first responders while maintaining a favorable business climate.

To facilitate the successful launch of this critical endeavor, we respectfully request
that you set aside $40 million from the adult-use marijuana tax revenues to help provide start-up funds that will enable first responder to access medically necessary PTSI treatments. We believe the legislature should direct this initial funding to the "State Post-Traumatic Stress Fund," which was established with the enactment of H.B. 308 in 2020 and is currently held by the Office of Budget and Management.

If we secure this initial funding, the organizations are confident we can reach a consensus on a comprehensive plan that delivers meaningful PTSI benefits to first responders. We look forward to submitting our final proposal to your offices in the near future.

cc: Ohio Senate & Ohio House Majority Leadership
Ohio Senate & Ohio House Minority Leadership
Governor DeWine
Senator Tom Patton
Representative Cindy Abrams
Director Kimberly Murnieks
Ray DiRossi & David Reedy