Create the escaped convict alert program
Legislative Analysis Report Create the escaped convict alert program
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This bill creates the escaped convict alert program in Ohio to help law enforcement quickly notify the public when a person convicted of or charged with a felony escapes from a jail, workhouse, or correctional facility.
Public SafetyLaw Enforcement
2. Changes to Existing Law
ORC Sec. 5502.54 Establishes the escaped convict alert program, allowing law enforcement to activate regional alerts when a felony suspect or convict escapes custody, and protects participating broadcasters from civil liability.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- A new alert system will help notify the public when a felony convict or suspect escapes from a local jail or state prison.
- Law enforcement agencies can choose to activate these alerts for the area surrounding the facility where the escape occurred.
- Radio, TV, and cable stations that share these alerts are protected from legal liability for broadcasting or failing to broadcast the alert information.
- The law does not allow the use of the federal emergency alert system for these escapes unless federal law permits it.
4. Entities Affected
- Law enforcement agencies
- Jails, workhouses, and state correctional institutions
- Radio and television broadcast stations
- Cable television systems
- Ohio residents living near correctional facilities
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: Local and state law enforcement agencies are granted the authority to activate the escaped convict alert program for their surrounding areas.
Penalties & Mandates: Not applicable
Implementation Timeline: Not applicable
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Not applicable
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Bill Roemer
District
31
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Josh Williams
District
44
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
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Status Changes
Legislation moves through a rigorous series of checkpoints. Use this tracker to see exactly which phase the bill is in—whether it’s currently under committee review, up for a floor vote, or awaiting a signature to become law. For more information about bills, please see How a Bill Becomes Law.
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Governor |
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Referred to committee
Jan 28 2025
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Reported - Substitute
Jun 18 2025
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Concurred in Senate amendments
Nov 05 2025
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Referred to committee
Jun 25 2025
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Reported - Substitute
Oct 28 2025
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Sent To The Governor
Nov 21 2025
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Signed By The Governor
Dec 01 2025
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Documents
Access the primary source. This section hosts the full, unedited text of the legislation alongside every official document produced during its journey. From the initial draft to the final enrolled version, you can review the exact language being proposed for state law.
