The Department/Agency agrees that the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council Director or his/her designee shall be given the opportunity to participate in and give input into training programs established by the respective Departments/Agencies which affect bargaining unit members.  Each Agency shall meet the training requirements established by this Article, state statutes or mandated by the Ohio Peace Officer's Training Council (OPOTC) for the officers classified as Peace Officers under the Ohio Revised Code 109. Courses taught that are mandated by OPOTC shall be conducted by OPOTC certified instructors in the subject matter. Other training courses that require a skill or level of knowledge retention shall be taught by qualified instructors or certified instructors, if applicable. For employees required to carry firearms, an OPOTC qualified firearms instructor shall be present during firearms qualifications. Failure to qualify due to an ammunition or firearm failure through no fault of the employee will permit the employee to be retested. Reasonable practice time for weapons qualifications will be provided by the Employer. Driving time shall not be included as training time. All training required by FEMA to be provided under the “National Incident Management System” (NIMS) will be provided to all employees required by NIMS.

A minimum of thirty-six (36) hours of law enforcement related in-service training will be provided annually by the Department to each member of the bargaining unit. The hours spent in annual firearms qualification and in meeting training requirements mandated by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council to retain Ohio Peace Officer Certification shall be considered as part of the thirty-six (36) hours of annual in-service training. The Department retains the right to require any member of the bargaining unit to attend additional training provided by or for the Department. The costs of training required by the Department will be paid for by the Department and will be paid at regular rate.

All members of the bargaining unit employed and commissioned as police officers in the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Public Safety and the Ohio Veteran's Home, shall be required to successfully complete the Ohio Police Officer Training Council's Basic Police Training. All training is to be paid by the Employer at regular rate. All members of the bargaining unit originally appointed as a police officer after the effective date of this contract shall be required to successfully complete the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council's Basic Police Training within one (1) year of the original date of appointment. Failure to successfully complete the Basic Police Training shall result in termination of employment and is not subject to the disciplinary grievance procedure. Possession of a current OPOTC Basic Police Training Certificate shall be deemed as being in compliance with this provision. Any additional training required by statute or the OPOTC to retain certification as an Ohio Peace Officer will be provided by the respective agency or facility. Failure to successfully complete the additional required training either within one (1) year or the period specified by statute or the OPOTC, as may be appropriate, shall result in termination of employment and is not subject to the disciplinary grievance procedure. The Departments retain the right to require additional training requirements at the Employer's expense as deemed necessary. A minimum of twenty (20) hours of training will be provided annually to each employee.

The Employer encourages those bargaining unit members who wish to pursue further education and/or training in addition to programs provided by the Employer. The Employer will reimburse members of the bargaining unit up to one-half of their tuition fees for any training or education received at an institution of higher education located within the State of Ohio, based on the following:

1. The employee receives a grade for each course equivalent to a numerical grade of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

2. The education or training is received at an institution that is authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

3. The employee submits certified proof of completion of the course and a receipt to his/her facility administrator showing the tuition involved has been paid.

4. The employee submits a written request to his/her facility administrator prior to the start of the course for which tuition reimbursement is sought, and receives approval for the request.

5. The contents of the seminar, workshop or conference taken must be job-related, increasing the employee's skills and/or knowledge relating to the present job or a higher-level position within the Division. The class or coursework undertaken must serve an educational purpose. The Employer may grant permanent employees paid leave during regular work hours to participate in non-agency training/continuing education programs which are directly related to the employee's work and will lead to the improvement of the employee's skill and job performance. The Director/Superintendent or his/her designee will retain final authority to approve or deny all such tuition reimbursement and leave requests, based on sound management practices, including the availability of funds. If limitation of funding prevents all tuition reimbursement requests from being approved, bargaining unit members enrolled in a degree program will receive first consideration. If funding limitation further prevents all members enrolled in a degree program from being approved, the member who has been continuously enrolled in a specific degree program will receive first consideration. Any such request for tuition reimbursement will not be unreasonably denied.

The Employer will offer, through the administration of the Department of Administrative Services, the tuition, seminar and conference fund. The fund will make available $75,000 in each fiscal year for fees and expenses for attendance at seminars, workshops, conferences and for tuition reimbursement. Beginning July 1, 2007, the fund will make available $100,000 each fiscal year. Subject to the limitations of the fund, each employee shall be eligible for an amount not to exceed twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars for tuition reimbursement of which a total of one thousand ($1,000) dollars may be used for seminars, workshops or conferences. Beginning July 1, 2007, the amounts shall increase to three thousand ($3,000) dollars and one thousand five hundred ($1,500) dollars, respectively. Seminars, workshops and conferences must be job related unless otherwise approved by management. In order to receive reimbursement the employee must successfully pass the job related coursework or otherwise approved course, if pass/fail, or a “C” or better, if grades are given.