(A) The Ohio peace officer training commission shall develop and conduct a basic training course lasting at least three weeks for sheriffs appointed or elected on or after January 1, 1988 and shall establish criteria for what constitutes successful completion of the course. The basic training course shall include instruction in contemporary law enforcement, criminal investigations, the judicial process, civil rules, corrections, and other topics relevant to the duties and operations of the office of sheriff. The commission shall offer the course every four years within six months after the general election of sheriffs in each county and at other times when it is needed to permit sheriffs to attend within six months after appointment or election. The course shall be conducted by the Ohio peace officer training academy. The council shall provide that not less than two weeks of the course conducted within six months after the general election of sheriffs in each county shall be conducted prior to the first Monday in January next after that general election.

(B) The attorney general shall appoint a continuing education committee, consisting of not fewer than five nor more than seven members, including but not limited to, members of the Ohio peace officer training commission and sheriffs. The commission and the committee jointly shall determine the type of continuing education required for sheriffs to complete the requirements of division (E) of section 311.01 of the Revised Code and shall establish criteria for what constitutes successful completion of the requirement. The committee shall approve the courses that sheriffs may attend to complete the continuing education requirement and shall publish an approved list of those courses. The commission shall maintain a list of approved training schools that sheriffs may attend to complete the continuing education requirement. Upon request, the committee may approve courses other than those courses conducted as part of a certified law enforcement manager program.

(C) Upon presentation of evidence by a sheriff that because of medical disability or for other good cause that the sheriff is unable to complete the basic or continuing education requirement, the commission may waive the requirement until the disability or cause terminates.

(D) As used in this section, "newly elected sheriff" means a person who did not hold the office of sheriff of a county on the date the person was elected sheriff of that county.

Effective Date: 01-14-1997.

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .