COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio House Wednesday approved a bill that would encourage law enforcement officers to patrol schools on their own time to prevent a tragedy like the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., nearly one year ago.
The Law Officer Volunteers in Education (LOVE) Program, sponsored by Rep. Anthony DeVitis (R-Green), offers a personal income tax credit for current or retired officers who patrol school property “to prevent or respond to a mass casualty event,” DeVitis said.
Under the bill, volunteers would be subject to a criminal records check every five years at their own expense and county sheriffs would keep a list of current and retired officers who qualify, DeVitis said.
The bill, now headed to the Senate, provides a nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $500 a year.