As Introduced

135th General Assembly

Regular Session S. B. No. 35

2023-2024

Senators Hoagland, O'Brien

A BILL

To amend section 109.803 and to enact section 109.802 of the Revised Code and to amend Section 701.70 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, to create the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund to reimburse for specified costs of peace officer and trooper continuing professional training, to create the Law Enforcement Equipment Fund to provide grants to small local law enforcement agencies to be used for purchasing law enforcement equipment, and to make an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 109.803 be amended and section 109.802 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 109.802. (A)(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Additional continuing professional training" means continuing professional training of peace officers and troopers that is in addition to the mandatory continuing professional training of the officers and troopers, and that is expressly preapproved by the Ohio peace officer training commission or that is in a category of training expressly preapproved by the commission.

(b) "Costs related to continuing professional training" means all of the following:

(i) The salaries of peace officers and troopers earned while they are receiving mandatory or additional continuing professional training and while they are on duty in their official capacity, as based on the hourly wages of the officers and troopers;

(ii) The actual cost charged for training described in division (A)(1)(b)(i) of this section, by the entity providing the training;

(iii) Any amount paid to officers and troopers who work as replacements for the officers and troopers receiving training described in division (A)(1)(b)(i) of this section and that is overtime pay for those officers and troopers while working as replacements.

(c) "Full-time peace officer" means a peace officer who is in paid status for at least forty hours per week.

(d) "Mandatory continuing professional training" means the continuing professional training of peace officers and troopers that is required during or after calendar year 2023 under section 109.803 of the Revised Code, and that is expressly preapproved by the Ohio peace officer training commission or that is in a category of training expressly preapproved by the commission.

(e) "Peace officer," "trooper," and "appointing authority" have the same meanings as in section 109.803 of the Revised Code.

(f) "Qualifying law enforcement agency" means any municipal, township, or county law enforcement agency that employs not more than twenty-five full-time peace officers.

(2) The provisions of this section regarding reimbursement for costs related to mandatory and additional continuing professional training successfully completed by peace officers and troopers and grants to qualifying law enforcement agencies apply on and after the effective date of this section or July 1, 2023, whichever is later.

(B)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the law enforcement assistance fund. The attorney general shall use the fund to pay reimbursements for costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training successfully completed by peace officers and troopers during or after calendar year 2023 as provided in this section and section 109.803 of the Revised Code, compensation of any employees of the attorney general required to administer those sections, and any other administrative costs incurred by the attorney general to administer those sections. Money in the fund that is not distributed under divisions (B) to (F) of this section during any state fiscal year, commencing in state fiscal year 2024, shall be transferred at the end of that fiscal year to the law enforcement equipment fund established under division (G) of this section, to be used for making grants for the purposes specified in that division.

(2) The provisions of this section apply with respect to reimbursement for costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training that is successfully completed by peace officers and troopers during or after calendar year 2023, subject to the maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of this section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section, and to the provision of grants after that calendar year under division (G) of this section.

(C) The attorney general shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing application procedures, standards, and guidelines, and prescribing an application form, for the reimbursement, on a quarterly basis, of public appointing authorities for costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training that is successfully completed by their peace officers and troopers during or after calendar year 2023, subject to the maximum specified in this division and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section. The total number of hours of successfully completed training with respect to which reimbursement may be provided under this section, for mandatory continuing professional training plus any additional continuing professional training, shall not exceed forty hours in any calendar year. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) A requirement that applications for reimbursement be submitted on a quarterly basis during a calendar year, with applications requesting reimbursement for costs related to training successfully completed in January, February, or March of a calendar year being submitted not later than the thirty-first day of March of that calendar year, applications requesting reimbursement for costs related to training successfully completed in April, May, or June of a calendar year being submitted not later than the thirtieth day of June of that calendar year, applications requesting reimbursement for costs related to training successfully completed in July, August, or September of a calendar year being submitted not later than the thirtieth day of September of that calendar year, and applications requesting reimbursement for costs related to training successfully completed in October, November, and December of a calendar year being submitted not later than the thirty-first day of December of that calendar year;

(2) The documentation required to substantiate any costs for which the applicant seeks reimbursement, including documentation evidencing all of the following:

(a) The successful completion of the mandatory or additional continuing professional training with respect to which the applicant seeks reimbursement, the number of hours of that training that were for mandatory training, and the number of hours that were for additional training;

(b) The salaries of the officers and troopers while receiving the training described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section and on duty in their official capacity, as based on their hourly wages;

(c) The actual cost charged for the training described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section, by the entity providing the training;

(d) Any payment received from any other source to cover any amount of the salaries or actual costs described in division (C)(2)(b) or (c) of this section;

(e) The amount of any overtime paid to officers or troopers substituting for officers or troopers receiving the training described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section, and for which the applicant seeks reimbursement.

(3) Procedures for submitting applications for reimbursement for costs related to mandatory continuing professional training successfully completed by a peace officer or trooper for whom the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission granted pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code an extension of the time for compliance with the continuing professional training requirement specified in division (A) of that section, and for the payment of reimbursements for costs related to that training;

(4) Procedures for the payment of reimbursements from the fund on a quarterly basis, as described in division (D)(1) of this section, and standards for determining the amounts of those quarterly reimbursements;

(5) Any other requirements necessary for the proper administration of the reimbursement program.

(D)(1) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall administer a program for reimbursing public appointing authorities for costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training that is successfully completed by the appointing authority's peace officers or troopers during or after calendar year 2023. Reimbursements under the program shall be paid on a quarterly basis, not later than the fifteenth day of the month following the last month for which training is covered under the application in question. The commission shall administer the reimbursement program in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(2) No reimbursement shall be made under this section for any cost related to any mandatory or additional continuing professional training successfully completed by a peace officer or trooper prior to July 1, 2023.

All reimbursements to be made under this section shall be reduced by any payment received from any other source to cover either any amount of the salaries of the officers and troopers while receiving the training with respect to which the applicant seeks reimbursement or any amount of the actual cost charged for that training.

(E) Each public appointing authority may apply each quarter of a calendar year, by the dates specified in division (C)(1) of this section, to the peace officer training commission for reimbursement for costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training successfully completed by the appointing authority's peace officers or troopers during or after calendar year 2023. Reimbursement may be requested for both costs related to mandatory continuing professional training and costs related to additional continuing professional training, subject to the maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of this section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section. Each application shall be made in accordance with, on an application form prescribed in, and be supported by the documentation required by, the rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(F)(1) The Ohio peace officer training commission, in accordance with rules of the attorney general adopted under division (C) of this section, shall review each application for reimbursement made under division (E) of this section to determine if the applicant is entitled to reimbursement for costs related to the mandatory or additional continuing professional training for which the applicant seeks reimbursement. Subject to division (F)(2) of this section, a public appointing authority that complies with division (B) of section 109.761 of the Revised Code and applies under division (E) of this section for reimbursement is entitled to reimbursement, on a quarterly basis, for both costs related to mandatory continuing professional training and costs related to additional continuing professional training, successfully completed by each of the appointing authority's peace officers or troopers. The reimbursements are subject to the maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of this section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section.

(2) If a peace officer or trooper of the public appointing authority for whom the executive director of the commission granted an extension under division (A)(2) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code successfully completes mandatory continuing professional training during the period of the extension, the public appointing authority is entitled to reimbursement for costs related to the mandatory continuing professional training successfully completed by that peace officer or trooper, subject to the maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of this section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section. An application for reimbursement of the type described in this division shall be made in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to division (C) of this section, and reimbursements shall be made in accordance with those rules.

(3) If a public appointing authority that applies under division (E) of this section for reimbursement is entitled to reimbursement under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section for costs related to the mandatory or additional continuing professional training of each peace officer and trooper who successfully completes the training, the commission shall approve reimbursing the appointing authority for the costs related to that training, subject to the maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of this section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of this section. Reimbursements under the program shall be paid on a quarterly basis, in accordance with divisions (C) and (D) of this section.

If a public appointing authority is entitled to reimbursement under division (F)(2) of this section for costs of mandatory or continuing professional training successfully completed by any of its peace officers or troopers, payment of the reimbursement shall not be withheld during the period of the extension granted to other peace officers or troopers of the authority under division (A)(2) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code, pending their compliance with the requirement for mandatory continuing professional training under that section. If a public appointing authority is entitled to reimbursement under division (F)(2) of this section and if one or more of its peace officers or troopers fails to complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission under division (A)(1) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code during the calendar year or during the period of an extension granted to the officer or trooper under division (A)(2) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code, the failure does not affect the reimbursement made to the public appointing authority, and the public appointing authority is not required to return the reimbursement or any portion of it.

(G) There is hereby created in the state treasury the law enforcement equipment fund. At the end of each fiscal year, commencing in fiscal year 2024, any surplus money in the law enforcement assistance fund shall be transferred to the law enforcement equipment fund. Money in the law enforcement equipment fund shall be distributed in the form of grants to qualifying law enforcement agencies to be used for the purchase of law enforcement equipment, including, but not limited to, vehicles on state-bid contracts, leather goods, firearms, protective vests, and communications devices or materials.

The attorney general shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing application procedures, standards, and guidelines, and prescribing an application form, for grants under this division.

The Ohio peace officer training commission shall administer a program for providing grants under this division, in accordance with the rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to this division. Qualifying law enforcement agencies may apply in accordance with those rules for grants under the program. Priority for the grants shall be given to qualifying law enforcement agencies based on their size and need, with smaller agencies being given preference for a grant.

(H)(1) Each public appointing authority that receives funds under divisions (B) to (F) of this section shall keep those funds separate from any other funds of the appointing authority and shall use those funds only for paying costs related to mandatory or additional continuing professional training.

(2) Each qualifying law enforcement agency that receives a grant under division (G) of this section shall keep the funds received under the grant separate from any other funds of the agency and shall use those funds only for the purchase of law enforcement equipment as specified in that division.

Sec. 109.803. (A)(1) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (B) of this section, every appointing authority shall require each of its appointed peace officers and troopers to complete up to twenty-four hours of continuing professional training each calendar year, as directed by the Ohio peace officer training commission. The number of hours directed by the commission, up to twenty-four hours, is intended to be a minimum requirement, and appointing authorities are encouraged to exceed the number of hours the commission directs as the minimum, provided that any reimbursement under section 109.802 of the Revised Code for the total amount of training completed is subject to the forty-hour maximum per calendar year specified in division (C) of that section and to the limitations specified in division (D)(2) of that section. The commission shall set the required minimum number of hours based upon available funding for reimbursement as described in this division. If Through calendar year 2022, if no funding for the reimbursement is available, no continuing professional training will be required.

(2) An appointing authority may submit a written request to the peace officer training commission that requests for a calendar year because of emergency circumstances an extension of the time within which one or more of its appointed peace officers or troopers must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission, as described in division (A)(1) of this section. A request made under this division shall set forth the name of each of the appointing authority's peace officers or troopers for whom an extension is requested, identify the emergency circumstances related to that peace officer or trooper, include documentation of those emergency circumstances, and set forth the date on which the request is submitted to the commission. A request shall be made under this division not later than the fifteenth day of December in the calendar year for which the extension is requested.

Upon receipt of a written request made under this division, the executive director of the commission shall review the request and the submitted documentation. If the executive director of the commission is satisfied that emergency circumstances exist for any peace officer or trooper for whom a request was made under this division, the executive director may approve the request for that peace officer or trooper and grant an extension of the time within which that peace officer or trooper must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission. An extension granted under this division may be for any period of time the executive director believes to be appropriate, and the executive director shall specify in the notice granting the extension the date on which the extension ends. Not later than thirty days after the date on which a request is submitted to the commission, for each peace officer and trooper for whom an extension is requested, the executive director either shall approve the request and grant an extension or deny the request and deny an extension and shall send to the appointing authority that submitted the request written notice of the executive director's decision.

If the executive director grants an extension of the time within which a particular appointed peace officer or trooper of an appointing authority must complete the required minimum number of hours of continuing professional training set by the commission, the appointing authority shall require that peace officer or trooper to complete the required minimum number of hours of training not later than the date on which the extension ends.

(B) With the advice of the Ohio peace officer training commission, the attorney general shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code rules setting forth minimum standards for continuing professional training for peace officers and troopers and governing the administration of continuing professional training programs for peace officers and troopers. The rules adopted by the attorney general under division (B) of this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Allow peace officers and troopers to earn credit for up to four hours of continuing professional training for time spent while on duty providing drug use prevention education training that utilizes evidence-based curricula to students in school districts, community schools established under Chapter 3314., STEM schools established under Chapter 3326., and college-preparatory boarding schools established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code.

(2) Allow a peace officer or trooper appointed by a law enforcement agency to earn hours of continuing professional training for other peace officers or troopers appointed by the law enforcement agency by providing drug use prevention education training under division (B)(1) of this section so that hours earned by the peace officer or trooper providing the training in excess of four hours may be applied to offset the number of continuing professional training hours required of another peace officer or trooper appointed by that law enforcement agency.

(3) Prohibit the use of continuing professional training hours earned under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section from being used to offset any mandatory hands-on training requirement.

(4) Require a peace officer to complete training on proper interactions with civilians during traffic stops and other in-person encounters, which training shall have an online offering and shall include all of the following topics:

(a) A person's rights during an interaction with a peace officer, including all of the following:

(i) When a peace officer may require a person to exit a vehicle;

(ii) Constitutional protections from illegal search and seizure;

(iii) The rights of a passenger in a vehicle who has been pulled over for a traffic stop;

(iv) The right for a citizen to record an encounter with a peace officer.

(b) Proper actions for interacting with a civilian and methods for diffusing a stressful encounter with a civilian;

(c) Laws regarding questioning and detention by peace officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a peace officer, and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws;

(d) Any other requirements and procedures necessary for the proper implementation of this section.

(C) The attorney general shall transmit a certified copy of any rule adopted under this section to the secretary of state.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Trooper" means an individual appointed as a state highway patrol trooper under section 5503.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Appointing authority" means any agency or entity that appoints a peace officer or trooper.

Section 2. That existing section 109.803 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section 3. That Section 701.70 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly (as amended by H.B. 45 of the 134th General Assembly) be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 701.70. (A)(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Trooper" means an individual appointed as a State Highway Patrol Trooper under section 5503.01 of the Revised Code.

(2)(2)(a) Not later than December 1, 2021, the Attorney General shall create a pilot program for state funding of the training of peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code. The pilot program shall be administered by the office of the Attorney General, in accordance with this section. The pilot program shall be an eighteen-month program, to be in existence from January 1, 2022, until June 30, 2023. Commencing on the effective date of section 109.802 of the Revised Code, as enacted in the act in which this amendment is made, or July 1, 2023, whichever is later, funding of the training shall be in accordance with section 109.802 of the Revised Code.

(b) The pilot program under division (A)(2) of this section shall consist of two components. The first component applies with respect to state funding under the pilot program during calendar year 2022 of the training of peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code, and shall be in existence only for calendar year 2022. Divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section apply with respect to that first component. The second component applies with respect to state funding under the pilot program from January 1, 2023, until June 30, 2023, of the training of peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code. Divisions (C)(1) to (6) of this section apply with respect to that second component. After the expiration of the pilot program, state funding of the training of peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code shall be in accordance with section 109.802 of the Revised Code, commencing at the time specified in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.

(B)(1) Not later than December 2, 2021, each law enforcement agency that has peace officers or troopers who are subject to the training requirement set forth in section 109.803 of the Revised Code shall certify to the Attorney General the total of all salaries to be paid in calendar year 2022 to officers or troopers of the agency who will receive that training in calendar year 2022 and the hourly rate of pay for each of those officers and troopers.

(2) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Attorney General shall begin the operation of the pilot program established under division (A)(2) of this section. Prior to that date, the Attorney General shall establish rules, under section 111.15 of the Revised Code, for the operation and administration of the component of the pilot program governed by division (B) of this section, for the determination of eligibility for funding and payments under that component of the program, and for the provision of funding and payments under that component of the program, in accordance with division (B) of this section. From money appropriated to the Attorney General for the purposes of such payments under that component of the pilot program, the Attorney General shall pay to each law enforcement agency that has peace officers or troopers who are subject to the training requirement set forth in section 109.803 of the Revised Code an amount to cover up to fifty per cent of the total cost of the salaries of the officers or troopers of the agency to be paid to officers or troopers who will receive that training in calendar year 2022, as certified by the agency in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section, during the period of the training. The amount to be paid shall cover only the period during which the officers or troopers are receiving that training and shall not exceed an amount covering twenty-four hours of the training. If the amount of the money appropriated to the Attorney General for the purposes of the component of the pilot program governed by division (B) of this section is insufficient to pay fifty per cent of the total cost of the salaries of the peace officers or troopers of all law enforcement agencies to be paid in calendar year 2022 to officers or troopers who will receive that training in calendar year 2022, the amount to be paid to each such agency shall be reduced proportionately so that each agency is paid an equal percentage of its cost in the year for the training. No payment shall be made to any law enforcement agency under division (B) of this section after January 1, 2023. If a law enforcement agency that receives money under this division does not use all of the money for the salaries certified by the agency in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section, the agency shall retain all of the money not used and shall use the retained money only for paying the cost of future continuing professional training programs for its peace officers and troopers.

A law enforcement agency that receives any payments under this division shall be responsible for paying the cost of training of its peace officers or troopers required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code that exceeds the amount of the payment received under the pilot program under this division.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this division, state funding for the training of peace officers or troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code shall be provided in calendar year 2022 only in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section, notwithstanding former section 109.802 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to September 20, 2021, rule 109:2-18-04 of the Administrative Code, and any other provision of law that addresses any alternative method of state funding for such training. The limitation specified in this division does not apply with respect to direct appropriations made to a state law enforcement agency or, with respect to funding in accordance with division (C) of this section as that division exists on and after the effective date of this amendment, or with respect to funding in accordance with section 109.802 of the Revised Code as that section exists on and after the effective date of this amendment.

(4) Each law enforcement agency that receives money under division (B)(2) of this section shall submit to the Attorney General, by the date specified by the Attorney General, a report that states the amount of money the agency received, how that money was used, when it was used, and any other information with respect to the use of the money that is required by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall prepare a report that compiles the information in the reports received from law enforcement agencies under this division and submit the report to the General Assembly and the Legislative Service Commission.

(C)(1) From money appropriated to the Attorney General for the purposes of payments under the component of the pilot program governed by division (C) of this section, the Attorney General shall pay reimbursements in accordance with division (C) of this section for continuing professional training programs for peace officers and troopers as provided in section 109.803 of the Revised Code.

(2) The Attorney General shall establish rules, under section 111.15 of the Revised Code, specifying application procedures, standards, and guidelines, and prescribing an application form, for the reimbursement under division (C) of this section of law enforcement agencies for the cost of continuing professional training programs for their peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) The date by which applications must be made and the documentation required to substantiate any costs for which the applicant seeks reimbursement;

(b) Procedures for making reimbursements from the fund and standards for determining the amounts of those reimbursements;

(c) Any other requirements necessary for the proper administration of the reimbursement program under division (C) of this section.

(3) Each law enforcement agency may apply to the Attorney General for reimbursement under division (C) of this section for the costs of continuing professional training programs that are successfully completed by the agency's peace officers or troopers. Each application shall be made in accordance with, on an application form prescribed in, and be supported by the documentation required by, the rules adopted by the Attorney General pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section.

(4) The Attorney General shall review each application for reimbursement made under division (C)(3) of this section to determine if the applicant is entitled to reimbursement for the training programs for which the applicant seeks reimbursement. A law enforcement agency that complies with division (B) of section 109.761 of the Revised Code and applies under division (C)(3) of this section for reimbursement is entitled to reimbursement for each of the agency's peace officers or troopers who timely complies with the continuing professional training requirement specified in division (A)(1) of section 109.803 of the Revised Code by completing the minimum number of hours of training directed by the Ohio peace officer training commission under that division and with the other requirements described in that division.

(5) If a law enforcement agency that applies under division (C)(3) of this section for reimbursement is entitled to reimbursement under division (C)(4) of this section for each peace officer and trooper who successfully completes a training program, the commission shall approve reimbursing the agency for the cost of that program. The actual amount of reimbursement for each authorized training program shall be determined by rules adopted by the Attorney General under division (C)(2) of this section.

(6)(a) Each law enforcement agency that receives funds under division (C)(4) this section shall keep those funds separate from any other funds of the agency and shall use those funds only for paying the cost of continuing professional training programs.

(b) If a law enforcement agency that receives funds for reimbursement under division (C)(4) of this section for peace officers or troopers who successfully complete a training program does not use all of the funds received for such a reimbursement, the agency shall retain all of the funds not used and shall use the retained funds only for paying the cost of future continuing professional training programs for its peace officers and troopers.

(c) A law enforcement agency that receives funds for reimbursement under division (C)(4) of this section shall be responsible for paying the cost of training of its peace officers or troopers required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code that exceeds the amount of the payment received under the pilot program under division (C) of this section.

(D)(1) There is created the Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission. The Commission shall consist of the following twelve members:

(a) The Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General who has experience in law enforcement funding issues;

(b) The Director of Public Safety or a designee of the Director who has experience in law enforcement funding issues;

(c) Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with not more than two of the persons appointed as members being members of the same political party;

(d) Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, with not more than two of the persons appointed as members being members of the same political party;

(e) Four members of the public appointed by the Governor, with each such member having a law enforcement background.

(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Governor shall make their initial appointments to the Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission not later than October 30, 2021.

(3) If an appointed member of the Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission ceases to hold the position that led to the member's appointment, the member is disqualified and a vacancy occurs. Vacancies of appointed members shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

(4) The Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission shall hold its first meeting not later than October 30, 2021, regardless of whether all members have been appointed under division (D)(2) of this section. At its first meeting, the Commission shall select a chairperson, and also shall select a vice-chairperson to perform in the absence of the chairperson. The Commission shall adopt procedures to govern its proceedings and shall meet as necessary at the call of the chairperson or on the written request of a majority of its members. A majority of serving Commission members constitutes a quorum. Formal recommendations shall be made by a vote of a majority of the quorum present. Commission meetings shall be open to the public under section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings as public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(5) Members of the Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission shall serve without compensation.

(6) The Law Enforcement Training Funding Study Commission shall study possible long-term methods for the provision of state funding to law enforcement agencies for the training of their peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code. The Commission shall evaluate the plans for the pilot program established under division (A) of this section, with respect to funding to be provided under division (B) of this section, as part of the study. Upon completion of the study, the Commission shall prepare a report of its findings and recommendations for a long-term method for the provision of state funding to law enforcement agencies for the training of their peace officers and troopers that is required under section 109.803 of the Revised Code. Not later than March 1, 2022, the Commission shall submit the report to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Attorney General, and the Legislative Service Commission. Upon submission of the report, the Commission shall cease to exist.

Section 4. That existing Section 701.70 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly (as amended by H.B. 45 of the 134th General Assembly) is hereby repealed.

Section 5. All items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2024 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2025. The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.

Section 6.

GENERAL REVENUE FUND TRANSFER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE FUND

On July 1 of each fiscal year of the biennium ending June 30, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Director of Budget and Management shall transfer $40,000,000 cash from the General Revenue Fund to the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (Fund 5L50).

The foregoing appropriation item 055619, Law Enforcement Assistance Program, shall be used by the Attorney General to pay reimbursements for costs related to mandatory and additional continuing professional training for peace officers and troopers as provided in sections 109.802 and 109.803 of the Revised Code, compensation of any employees of the Attorney General required to administer those sections, and any other administrative costs incurred by the Attorney General to administer those sections.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE FUND TRANSFER TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT FUND

On June 30 of each fiscal year, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Attorney General shall certify to the Director of Budget and Management the unexpended, unencumbered balance of the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund remaining at the end of the fiscal year. The Director of Budget and Management shall transfer the amounts certified, or an amount jointly determined by the Director of Budget and Management and the Attorney General as surplus pursuant to division (G) of section 109.802 of the Revised Code, to the credit of the Law Enforcement Equipment Fund created in division (G) of section 109.802 of the Revised Code. The funds shall be distributed in the form of grants to qualifying law enforcement agencies to be used for the stated purposes in division (G) of section 109.802 of the Revised Code.

Section 7. Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of the 135th General Assembly.