Ohio Department of Public Safety

This Strategic Plan outlines the Ohio Department of Public Safety's commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across its operations. The plan is built upon three core pillars: "Our PEOPLE," focusing on building, retaining, and investing in a diverse workforce; "Our POLICY," dedicated to maintaining zero-tolerance for discrimination and eliminating implicit and institutional bias; and "Our PUBLIC SERVICE," ensuring accessible, culturally competent, and equitable services and contracting for all Ohioans. The overarching goal is to eliminate institutional and systemic bias, fostering justice, equity, opportunity, and resilience within the department and for the citizens it serves.

The committee reviewed and approved several project proposals, including the Traffic Crash Report Data Integrity and Accuracy Initiative, the Fatal Crash and Injury Database, and a project for integrating data points on motorcycle crashes, endorsement history, and rider training. Core area updates were provided regarding crash data, vehicle and driver services, including online system enhancements and reinstatement programs, and roadway data collection. Additionally, the committee discussed emergency medical services incident reporting and case management system updates, and noted the status of the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 grant application.

The committee discussed several key projects and updates, including a presentation on Ohio Statistics and Analytics for Traffic Safety (OSTATS), roadway project progress, crash data reporting, and Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) service enhancements such as online record requests, title portals, and kiosk expansion. Updates were provided on the EMS incident reporting system, case management system integration, and federal grant funding status. Additionally, the committee addressed the denial of a project proposal by NHTSA, discussed future strategic plan priorities, and received information regarding license forfeiture processes and electronic citation implementation.

The meeting focused on finalizing recommendations regarding public safety in state parks and lands, with particular attention to the unique challenges faced by island communities experiencing high volumes of tourists. Key discussion topics included the potential for state reimbursement to local communities for safety service expenses incurred on state park land, the implementation of drone programs for emergency response, and strategies to improve the collection and compliance of lodging taxes. The group debated the necessity of parity in lodging tax collections for short-term rentals and explored the feasibility of issuing annual reports on county-level tax collection efficiency to encourage compliance.

The meeting included reports on core area updates for crash data, vehicle and driver services, roadway project updates, and emergency medical services incident reporting. Discussions covered the implementation of the Skill-2-Drive project, new court conviction letter processes, REAL ID enforcement deadlines, and reinstatement fee amnesty programs. Additionally, the committee reviewed grant funding for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024, criteria for 405(c) grant eligibility, and new court technology upgrade opportunities. The meeting also addressed updates on the distracted driving law, telematics data, and the ongoing partnership between the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Nationwide Children's Hospital.