The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code to improve training and certification requirements for law enforcement officers in Ohio. It introduces a new section, 109.791, which empowers the Ohio peace officer training commission to develop additional training courses for officers at or above the rank of sergeant. Additionally, it modifies section 109.804 to require a 40-hour chief of police training course for newly appointed chiefs, covering essential topics such as diversity training and community-police relations. The commission will determine the course content and offer it at least semiannually, while newly appointed chiefs can request an equivalency exemption for up to eight hours of training based on prior qualifications, with a submission deadline set at fourteen days before the course begins.

Moreover, the bill amends section 124.11 to clarify the classification of civil service positions, specifically exempting certain law enforcement training roles from competitive examinations. It allows employees appointed to participate in law enforcement training schools to be classified under the unclassified service, streamlining the hiring process for police departments. The bill also enables the director of administrative services to bypass competition for vacancies in police departments if candidates possess specialized certifications or have completed police cadet training programs. It establishes that chiefs of police may conduct training schools for prospective officers, facilitating direct hiring of graduates into relevant departments, and repeals conflicting sections of the Revised Code to enhance the overall training and hiring practices within law enforcement agencies.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 124.11, 124.30
As Reported By House Committee: 109.804, 124.11, 124.30
As Passed By House: 109.804, 124.11, 124.30
As Reported By Senate Committee: 109.804, 124.11, 124.30
As Passed By Senate: 109.804, 124.11, 124.30
As Enrolled: 109.804, 124.11, 124.30