OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 168 Bill Analysis
134th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 168’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the Senate
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Hoagland
Effective Date:
Mitchell Smith, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
Ohio Mobile Training Team Program
Establishes the Ohio Mobile Training Team Program.
Requires the Director of Public Safety to appoint a Chief Mobile Training Officer, who
then selects 16 regional mobile training officers that provide services regarding school
and campus safety and security to primary and secondary schools and institutions of
higher education.
Requires an individual to be either a licensed peace officer or a veteran of the United
States Armed Forces and to have completed any additional training requirements
required by the Director or the Chief Mobile Training Officer to be considered for the
program.
Requires all Mobile Training Team officers to complete an approved weapons training
recertification program each quarter.
School safety designees
Creates the position of a “school safety designee,” who is an individual authorized to
carry firearms in a school safety zone and may be a school resource officer (SRO), a
security officer, or another individual authorized by a district board or school governing
authority.
Firearms qualification and requalification training
Requires the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) to recommend rules to
the Attorney General, in addition to those required under continuing law, regarding
requirements for firearms qualification and requalification training programs that must
be completed by the Ohio Mobile Training Team and school safety designees.
Authorizes the Executive Director of the OPOTC to:
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Approve firearms requalification training programs that the Chief Mobile Training
Officer or a regional mobile training officer must complete quarterly;
Certify instructors for training programs to be provided to regional mobile training
officers for their certification as qualified instructors for basic firearms training and
requalification training programs; and
Certify regional mobile training officers as qualified instructors for the basic firearms
training and requalification training programs for school safety designees.
Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules governing firearms qualification and
requalification training programs that must be completed by the officers of the Ohio
Mobile Training Team and school safety designees.
Emergency management plans
Requires additional protocols for building administrators in the development, testing,
and administration of building emergency management plans.
Appropriation
Makes an appropriation for the Ohio Mobile Training Team Program.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Ohio Mobile Training Team Program
The bill establishes the Ohio Mobile Training Team Program within the Department of
Public Safety. Under the program, the Director of Public Safety must appoint a Chief Mobile
Training Officer within 90 days after the bill’s effective date. The Chief Mobile Training Officer
then must select 16 regional mobile training officers in consultation with the Director within
90 days after the Chief’s appointment. The regional mobile training officers provide services
regarding school and campus safety and security to public and nonpublic primary and
secondary schools and state and private institutions of higher education.1
Eligibility and training
To be eligible, a training officer must be either a licensed peace officer or a veteran of
the U.S. armed forces who has been honorably discharged or who has been transferred to the
reserve forces with evidence of satisfactory service and meet all additional qualifications
required by the Director of Public Safety or the Chief Mobile Training Officer. 2 Furthermore, the
Chief Mobile Training Officer and each regional mobile training officer must complete a
quarterly firearms requalification program approved by the Executive Director of the Ohio
Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC). The bill expressly prohibits Mobile Training
1 R.C. 5502.01(L), 5502.70, and 5502.702.
2 R.C. 5502.701 and 5502.702.
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Officers from carrying firearms during the course of official duties if they do not complete the
quarterly requalification training programs.3
Powers and duties
The bill requires the Chief Mobile Training Officer to administer the program, adopt
additional qualifications for regional mobile training officers, and to enforce rules and execute
additional duties required by the Director of Public Safety.
The bill specifies the following duties for each regional officer:
1. Assist administrators within the officer’s region with the development or review of an
emergency management plan, upon request;
2. Assist in the development or review of security protocols of state or private institutions
of higher education within the officer’s region, upon request;
3. Assist administrators of a public or nonpublic school within the officer’s region with any
other security protocols for activities or events outside of a school building during or
after school hours, upon request;
4. Assist in strategic communications between federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies in the event of an emergency situation at a school or an institution of higher
education within the officer’s region, upon request;
5. Offer tactical emergency medical services training to public and nonpublic schools
within the officer’s region;
6. Promote the use of the SaferOH tip line within the officer’s region;4
7. Enforce rules and execute additional duties prescribed by either the Director of Public
Safety or the Chief Mobile Training Officer;
8. Seek certification from the Executive Director of the OPOTC to provide firearms training
to school safety designees or refer them to another person who is certified to provide
that training; and
9. Oversee training operations and offer training opportunities for school employees,
which may include observing emergency management plan tests, providing weapons
manipulation instruction, and other “appropriate activities.”5
The bill permits the Chief Mobile Training Officer and regional mobile training officers to
enter into any necessary agreements to carry out their duties. But it also specifies that,
3 R.C. 109.801(A) and 5502.701(D).
4 Information on the tip line can be found at https://ohioschoolsafetycenter.ohio.gov/pre-k-12-
schools/safer-ohio-school-tip-line.
5 R.C. 5502.702(C).
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generally, they do not have authority over the incident management structure or
responsibilities of local emergency response personnel.6
Mobile training team regions
The bill prescribes 16 mobile training team regions to correspond with the regions of the
Educational Regional Service System, as shown in the table below.7
Region Counties
1 Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky,
Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood
2 Erie, Huron, and Lorain
3 Cuyahoga
4 Geauga and Lake
5 Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull
6 Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, and Shelby
7 Ashland, Crawford, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, and Wyandot
8 Medina, Portage, and Summit
9 Columbiana, Stark, and Wayne
10 Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble
11 Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union
12 Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Muskingum,
Noble, and Tuscarawas
13 Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren
14 Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland
15 Lawrence, Pike, Ross, and Scioto
16 Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and
Washington
School safety designees
The bill creates the position of “school safety designee,” who is an individual authorized
to carry firearms in a school safety zone and who may be any of the following individuals:
6 R.C. 5502.70(C) and (D).
7 R.C. 5502.70(C). See R.C. 3312.02, not in the bill.
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A school resource officer (SRO) authorized under a memorandum of understanding
between a law enforcement agency and a school district to carry firearms while on duty
for the district;
A security officer who is not an SRO but who is employed by a school district or school
and is authorized to carry firearms while on duty; or
Any individual who is neither a SRO or security officer but who is authorized by a district
board or school governing authority to convey or possess deadly weapons or ordnance
into a school safety zone.8
Under the bill, an individual who is not a SRO must successfully complete an initial basic
firearms training program for school safety designees and possess a valid concealed handgun
license. Further, an individual may not continue serving as a school safety designee without
completing a firearms requalification training program in the preceding quarter. All required
training for a school safety designee must be provided by either a certified regional mobile
training officer or another person authorized by the OPOTC to provide firearms requalification
training.9
Firearms qualification and requalification training programs
Duties of the OPOTC
Training rule recommendations
The bill requires the OPOTC to recommend rules to the Attorney General regarding:
1. Requirements for firearms requalification training programs that the Chief Mobile
Training Officer or a regional mobile training officer must complete on a quarterly basis
to continue serving in that capacity;
2. Requirements for firearms training programs that regional mobile training officers must
complete to be certified as instructors authorized to provide school safety designees
with basic firearms training and requalification training programs;
3. Requirements for basic firearms training programs that a person who is not a SRO must
successfully complete to be appointed as a school safety designee, with training
provided by a regional mobile training officer or another authorized instructor;
4. Entities or persons that may be certified as instructors for training programs to be
provided for the Chief Mobile Training Officer and regional mobile training officers; and
8 R.C. 5502.701(A)(2), (C), and (D); see also R.C. 2923.122 and 3313.951, latter not in the bill.
9 R.C. 109.71(I) through (K) and 5502.701(D) and (E).
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5. Requirements for quarterly firearms requalification training programs that each school
safety designee must complete to continue serving in that capacity, with training
provided by a regional mobile training officer or another authorized instructor.10
Program approval
The bill also authorizes the Executive Director of the OPOTC to do the following:
1. Approve quarterly firearms requalification training programs for the Chief Mobile
Training Officer and regional mobile training officers;
2. Certify instructors for the training programs; and
3. Certify regional mobile training officers as qualified instructors for the basic firearms
training and requalification training programs for school safety designees.11
Adoption of rules by the Attorney General
After receiving the rules recommendations from the OPOTC, the Attorney General must
adopt rules governing basic firearms training programs that a school safety designee who is not
a SRO must complete to be appointed to that position, with training provided by a regional
mobile training officer or another authorized instructor. The Attorney General, in addition to
those required under continuing law, also must adopt rules governing firearms requalification
programs approved by the Executive Director of the OPOTC that the Chief Mobile Training
Officer and each regional mobile training officer and school safety designee must complete
each year, at quarterly intervals.12
School emergency management plans
The bill makes several changes to the development and operation of school
comprehensive emergency management plans required under continuing law. First, it permits
each building administrator to involve the regional mobile training officer when developing or
revising a building’s emergency management plan.13
Second, it requires each administrator to incorporate plans for (1) implementing mobile
communications, (2) mobile accountability, and (3) mobile reunification into each building’s
emergency management plan.14
Third, it adds regional mobile training officers to the list of agencies that may receive a
copy of a building’s emergency management plan upon request. Current law permits the fire
department and the emergency medical service organization serving the political subdivision in
10 R.C. 109.73(A)(16) through (20).
11 R.C. 109.75(N) through (P)
12 R.C. 109.743(B) and 109.801(A)(2).
13 R.C. 5502.262(B)(1).
14 R.C. 5502.262(B)(2)(b).
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which the building is located and the county emergency management agency for the building to
request a copy of building emergency management plans.15
Finally, the bill requires that each administrator prepare and conduct an emergency
management test at least once per quarter. Administrators also must file a defined mission
statement prior to conducting a test and an after-action report upon completion of a test with
the regional mobile training officer. Current law prescribes only one annual test.16
Appropriation
The bill appropriates to the Department of Public Safety $6 million in each of FY 2022
and FY 2023 for the purpose of administrating the Ohio Mobile Training Team Program. 17
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 04-22-21
Reported, S. Veterans & Public Safety 10-06-21
Passed Senate (23-8) 02-09-22
S0168-PS-134/ks
15 R.C. 5502.262(C)(2)(d).
16 R.C. 5502.262(E).
17 Sections 4 and 5 of the bill.
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Statutes affected: As Introduced: 109.71, 109.73, 109.743, 109.75, 109.801, 2923.122, 5502.01, 5502.262
As Reported By Senate Committee: 109.71, 109.73, 109.743, 109.75, 109.801, 2923.122, 5502.01, 5502.262
As Passed By Senate: 109.71, 109.73, 109.743, 109.75, 109.801, 2923.122, 5502.01, 5502.262