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Bill Summary · HB 852

Summary of HB 852 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly)

  • Purpose and intent

    • The bill would require anyone appointed as a chief of police to complete an approved peace officer basic training program. It also makes related conforming changes to ensure interim appointments and various types of police leadership positions meet training requirements.

  • Key provisions and changes

    • Training requirement for chiefs of police
    • Amends sections 109.77 and related provisions to require a certificate of satisfactory completion of an approved peace officer basic training program for individuals appointed as chiefs of police (per 109.77).
    • Interim leadership positions
    • Creates or tightens requirements for interim chiefs of police (and interim village marshals) who do not yet hold a peace officer certificate. Interim appointees may serve up to six months (extendable for good cause) and must enroll in an approved basic training program during their term.
    • Certification and eligibility
    • Requires the executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission to issue certificates only after a confirmed, completed, and satisfactory basic training program.
    • Requires criminal history checks and disclosure of felony convictions prior to certificate issuance; certificates can be revoked for new felony or certain misdemeanor findings.
    • Related sections and applicability
    • Applies to chiefs of police, chiefs of village marshals, and certain other law enforcement leadership roles across various entities (counties, townships, municipal corporations, regional transit authorities, state universities, port authorities, airport authorities, etc.).
    • Specifies that certain pre-1985 or legacy-holding officers may be exempt from some aspects of the new requirements, preserving existing status for long-standing appointees under listed exceptions.
    • Additional programmatic requirements
    • Training content to be included in peace officer basic training programs for those subject to the rule: handling domestic violence offenses and protection orders, crisis intervention training, and companion animal encounters/behavior.
    • Acknowledge historical carve-outs or grandfathered status for officers serving before certain dates; however, new appointees after those dates must comply.

  • Who would be affected

    • Individuals appointed as chief of police (including interim chiefs) in towns, townships, counties, and various public safety jurisdictions.
    • Interim leaders (up to six months) who do not already hold a peace officer certificate and must enroll in training during their interim period.
    • Municipal and county agencies, regional transit authorities, port authorities, airport authorities, and related entities that appoint police or chief-of-police positions.

  • Procedural and timeline aspects

    • Repeals and replaces prior provisions (109.77 and 737.15) with updated requirements.
    • Interim appointments have defined time limits and mandatory training enrollment during the interim period.
    • Certification and relicensing processes are tied to criminal history checks and potential revocation if violations occur.
    • Effective dates align with the amendment’s passage and the retroactive application is limited by enumerated grandfather clauses.

  • Overall impact

    • Aims to raise professional standards for police leadership by ensuring chiefs and interim chiefs have completed formal peace officer training.
    • Seeks to improve accountability through background checks and mandatory training, with structured transition to full certification for leadership roles.

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

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