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Bill Summary · HB 817

HB 817 (136th General Assembly) – NextGen Public Safety Pilot Program (Ohio)

Overview
- Purpose: Create a two-year NextGen Public Safety Pilot Program in Lucas County to support deployment of modern public safety technologies, with grant funding and conditional local matching requirements. Establishes funding, reporting, and potential state revenue offsets if grant terms are not met.
- Sponsor: Rep. Williams (co-sponsor: Josh Williams)

Key Provisions

1) NextGen Public Safety Pilot Program (Two-year pilot in Lucas County)
- Eligible recipients via Department of Public Safety (DPS) grants:
- Lucas County (county government)
- The City of Toledo
- A major metropolitan city located within Lucas County that has invested in public safety drone technology
- A major metropolitan city located within Lucas County that has invested in a stationary surveillance camera network with a command system
- Goals: Support deployment and expansion of modern public safety tech (e.g., license plate readers, cameras, drones, infrastructure, and command centers)

2) Grant awards and conditions
- Lucas County:
- Eligibility criteria:
- County commissioners previously contracted to fund a county-wide license plate reader (LPR) system
- County maintains such system at time of application
- Agreement to maintain the system for at least five years from grant receipt
- Agreement to increase LPR/camera count by 25% within one year after last grant award
- Grants: $500,000 for FY 2026 and $500,000 for FY 2027 (to be passed through to the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office)
- Purpose: Purchase additional LPRs and related tech/infrastructure
- Penalty for noncompliance: If a 25%+ increase is not achieved within one year, DPS notifies the Tax Commissioner, triggering reductions to Lucas County’s Local Government Fund (LGF) payments, proportionate to the county’s certified share. Reductions continue until total grant amount is offset; Treasurer transfers reduced funds to General Revenue Fund.

  • City of Toledo:

    • Eligibility criteria:
    • City legislative authority previously contracted to fund a city-wide LPR system
    • City maintains system at application
    • Agreement to maintain system for at least five years
    • Agreement to increase LPR/camera count by 25% within one year after last grant award
    • Grants: $500,000 for FY 2026 and $500,000 for FY 2027 (to be passed through to the Toledo Police Department)
    • Purpose: Purchase additional LPRs and related tech/infrastructure
    • Penalty for noncompliance: If 25%+ increase is not achieved, DPS notifies Tax Commissioner, triggering:
    • Cessation of LGF payments to Toledo
    • Reduction of subsequent LGF payments to Lucas County’s undivided LGF, proportionate to Toledo’s certified share
    • Reductions continue until total grant amount is offset
    • Tax Commissioner transfers reduced funds to General Revenue Fund

  • Other qualifying entities within Lucas County:

    • Major metropolitan city investing in public safety drone technology
    • Grants: $750,000 for FY 2026 and $750,000 for FY 2027
    • Funds flow to the Toledo Police Department to acquire drones and related tech/infrastructure
    • Drones must comply with applicable federal laws and “American Security Drone Act of 2023” and related defense spending requirements
    • Major metropolitan city with a stationary surveillance camera network and command center
    • Grants: $1,500,000 for FY 2026 and $1,500,000 for FY 2027
    • Funds flow to the Toledo Police Department for staff/infrastructure to upgrade the command center and expand the camera network

3) Additional program features
- Section C: One-time grant of $500,000 for any major metropolitan city in Lucas County that enacts an ordinance requiring all commercial businesses to install front-facing security cameras meeting:
- 4K resolution
- Continuous video feed
- Footage retained for at least 30 days

  • Section C(2): For cities receiving the above grant:
    • $400,000 of the award must fund a grant program to reimburse small gas stations (50 or fewer employees) for cameras
    • Remaining funds used to market/promote ordinance compliance

4) Reporting and evaluation
- Section D: If Lucas County or a qualifying city receives a grant, they must report by Jan 1, 2028, on:
- Violent vs. nonviolent crime cases reported (FY 2025–2027)
- Case closure rates
- Number of outstanding crime cases

  • Section E: DPS must submit a report to the General Assembly and Governor by Jan 1, 2032 assessing the pilot’s effectiveness in reducing crime and increasing case closures, to inform potential statewide expansion.

5) Appropriations and administration
- Section 3 outlines appropriations:
- FY 2026: $3,750,000 from the General Revenue Fund (GRF) for Justice Program Services
- FY 2027: $3,250,000 from GRF
- Section 4: Directs the Director of Budget and Management to establish accounts and manage funds consistent with HB 96 of the 136th General Assembly.

Impact and Considerations
- Fiscal impact: Specific grants totaling up to several million dollars over two years (primarily for LPRs, drones, cameras, and command center upgrades) with Conditional reductions to LGF if milestones aren’t met.
- Local impact: Lucas County and Toledo would be central to program implementation, with incentives for expanded surveillance infrastructure and visibility to drive crime data and outcomes.
- Accountability: Requires performance and crime outcome reporting, plus a long-term assessment to determine statewide viability.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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