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Township police, Catholic Conference and chiefs back bill to let non‑home‑rule townships provide SRO services to nonpublic schools
Summary
Proponents told the committee that Senate Bill 318 would give non‑home‑rule townships explicit authority to enter MOUs to provide school resource officer services to chartered nonpublic schools after an attorney general opinion said existing law did not allow it.
Proponents said Senate Bill 318 is a narrow statutory clarification to restore formal authority for some township police departments to provide structured school resource officer (SRO) services to chartered nonpublic schools.
Tom Radakin of the Catholic Conference of Ohio told the committee SB 318 would fill a gap left by a 2025 Ohio Attorney General opinion that, in his reading, concluded non‑home‑rule townships lacked authority to provide SRO services to chartered nonpublic schools. "In short, the attorney general said no — a non home rule township cannot provide SRO services to a charter non public school," Radakin said, and he attached the opinion to his testimony.
Poland Township Police Chief Greg Wilson described a three‑year MOU in place with Holy Family School under which the township assigns one officer as an SRO while school is in session. Wilson said SB 318 would permit townships, with approval of elected township trustees, to enter MOUs under Ohio Revised Code section 3313.951 to provide SRO services without expanding police powers or requiring state funding. He emphasized MOUs provide operational clarity on scope of service, supervision, communication and liability protections.
Ranking Member Ingram asked why county or municipal partners could not provide the service under home‑rule arrangements in some cases; Radakin and Wilson said local circumstances vary and that the bill would restore an option for townships that already provide those services and wish to continue. The committee listed written proponent testimony from the Diocese of Youngstown, Poland Township, the Poland Township Police Department, Holy Family School and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
The committee concluded its second hearing on SB 318 with no vote; proponents said the change affects a limited set of rural and non‑home‑rule jurisdictions but would restore continuity and accountability where MOUs already exist.
