Attorney General's office warns of VOCA instability, discusses indictments and police training changes in update to commissioners

An attorney from the Ohio Attorney General's Office briefed Morrow County commissioners on March 27 about a range of statewide developments, telling the board the office is urging Congress to stabilize federal VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funding and outlining recent indictments and proposed changes to law-enforcement training and pension rules.

"The money coming down to the state and the locals from the federal government continues to decrease year after year," the AG representative said, adding that the office had joined a coalition of state attorneys general to press Congress for steadier VOCA allocations. The speaker also said the office was "projecting a 40% increase for the next fiscal year in VOCA funds," as part of planning discussions the office is having with local partners.

On legal matters, the AG's office representative said the office had indicted former speaker Larry Householder on state charges related to the HP/6 matter and noted a state conviction could bar him from future public office. "If convicted on state charges, Mr. Householder can never hold public office ever again," the speaker said.

The attorney described a Blue Ribbon Task Force formed by the AG's office that released recommendations to the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission, suggesting curriculum updates for basic academies, changes to firearm qualification standards, continuing-education adjustments and other training realignments. The office plans to present those recommendations at the commission’s next regular meeting.

The speaker reviewed pending legislation including HB 366 (retail crime measures) and another bill that would allow agencies to hire peace officers under age 21 in limited circumstances. He described the latter as permissive — "so no one would be forced to do that," the representative said — leaving the hiring decision to local agencies.

The AG's update also covered HB 296, legislation that would increase pension contributions for police and fire; the speaker noted that many local deputies are in different retirement classifications and that the bill may not affect the county's deputies directly. The office member named several local jurisdictions expected to be affected and described contribution-rate differences as discussed in committee.

Finally, the AG's office outlined its outreach schedule, including an annual "2 Days in May" victim-advocate conference, a human-trafficking conference moved to August this year, and a law-enforcement conference later in the year.

No formal county action was recorded on the legislative items during the session; the briefing was informational and concluded as the agenda returned to routine business.