To enact section 109.70 of the Revised Code to prohibit law enforcement agencies from using quotas for arrests and citations.
Summary
HB131 would add a new section to the Ohio Revised Code prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using arrest or citation quotas. The bill defines a quota as a required finite number of arrests or citations within a specified time period and bars agencies from using such quotas to evaluate, promote, compensate, transfer, or discipline officers. It also prohibits agencies from requiring, suggesting, or implying that officers are expected to meet a quota, and from offering rewards or benefits tied to quota performance.
The bill applies to a broad range of Ohio law enforcement entities, including county sheriffs, village marshals, municipal and township police departments, township constables, township or joint police districts, and the State Highway Patrol. It preserves the ability of agencies to review arrest and citation data for compliance and proportionality purposes, so long as that review is not used as a quota system. The Attorney General would be required to create an online complaint form, investigate alleged violations, and issue a cease-and-desist order if a violation is found.
Impact
HB131 would create a new statewide prohibition on quota-based policing practices and add an enforcement mechanism through the Attorney General. In practical terms, it would limit how Ohio law enforcement agencies manage personnel performance and discipline, while still allowing data analysis for legal compliance and oversight. The bill would affect state and local police agencies, sheriffs' offices, township and municipal departments, and the Highway Patrol, and would establish a formal complaint and investigation process for alleged violations.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was broadly supported in the House. It received a 9-1 favorable committee vote and then passed the House unanimously, 91-0. That pattern indicates strong bipartisan agreement with the general goal of preventing arrest and citation quotas in policing.
Contention
The main policy issue in the bill is the line between prohibited quotas and permissible performance review. Supporters appear to favor preventing pressure on officers to make arrests or issue citations for numerical targets, while the bill explicitly protects ordinary data analysis and proportionality review. Any opposition would likely center on concerns that the definition of quota or the complaint/investigation process could interfere with management discretion, but the recorded votes show little visible resistance in the House.