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Bill would let municipal police chiefs bypass civil-service tests for lateral hires, allow cadet training programs
Summary
Sponsors of House Bill 44 told the Public Safety Committee the measure would let statutory cities fill some police vacancies without a competitive civil-service exam when departments can show an applicant is exceptionally qualified, and would permit municipal training schools aligned with OPOTA standards.
Representatives Joe Miller and Kevin Miller (co-sponsors) presented House Bill 44 during a first hearing before the Ohio House Public Safety Committee, saying the bill would align statutory cities with charter cities by allowing municipal police chiefs to hire lateral transfers without an exam when the competitive component is unnecessary.
Sponsors said the change would reduce months-long delays when departments try to hire experienced officers from other jurisdictions. “Filling positions with veteran officers avoids excessive time and money and allows for a trained officer to immediately make an impact,” one sponsor told the committee.
The bill also would permit municipal police chiefs to run cadet training programs that meet Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) standards; graduates from such programs could be hired directly if they meet appointment requirements. Sponsors described the language as permissive and intended to ease recruitment and lateral transfer friction, not to change promotion procedures for sergeants or lieutenants.
Committee members asked which positions would be affected and how the bill would guard against “bad actors.” Several members sought clarity on whether promotions (sergeant, lieutenant) would be bypassed; sponsors said the bill targets entry-level officer hires and lateral transfers, not promotional processes. Representative Brewer asked whether background checks and reference checks would remain standard; sponsors said most departments already perform background checks and contact prior employers, and they expected those checks to continue under the bill.
No vote occurred at the hearing. Sponsors said the bill is intended to bring statutory cities into parity with charter cities and that they would work with members on any technical clarifications.
