COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN) -- A number of House Democrats are backing legislation which would prohibit Ohio businesses from advertising for only currently employed job applicants.

The Ohio Fair Employment Act is very similar to legislation in the Senate, which was introduced in November.

"The use of the words 'unemployed need not apply' is a discrimination of those people who happened to be unemployed at the time," said Rep. Ted Celeste, a co-sponsor of the bill.

The bill only accounts for advertising. An employer could later decide to eliminate any unemployed applicants.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce said it will oppose the legislation because employers should be able to use their own ways of determining how to fill positions.

A recent survey of job listings found 150 occurrences where businesses required current employment to apply for a job, Celeste said.