OH HB44

Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission authorized to establish advanced training courses for law enforcement officers at or above the rank of sergeant

Chief of police training requirements modified: 40-hour course required within 6 months of appointment, with up to 8 hours exemptable based on prior training; course locations expanded beyond the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy to commission-determined locations

Municipal police chiefs authorized to operate training schools for prospective law enforcement officers, with programs aligned to state academy standards; graduates may be hired directly without competitive examination if they meet appointment requirements

Vacant police department positions in classified civil service may be filled without competitive examination when the candidate holds specialized certification, possesses exceptional qualifications, or completed a department cadet training program

Definition of "newly appointed chief of police" expanded to include any administrative official responsible for daily supervision of peace officers who has never held a full-time chief position, rather than only those who did not hold the office immediately before appointment