Bill Text: OH HB197 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: To require that all moneys collected by the clerk of a municipal or county court be paid to the appropriate person, fund, or entity on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected; to authorize a municipal, mayor's, or county court to require community service in lieu of costs if at the time of sentencing or any time after sentencing the court finds that the offender cannot pay costs; to authorize a municipal, mayor's, or county court to allow payment of costs in installments if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing the court finds that the offender will not be able to pay costs in full when due; to raise the ceilings on the optional additional fees that a court of common pleas may charge to fund court computerization or computerization of the court clerk's office; to authorize use of the additional clerk's fees to fund technological advances in the clerk's office; to authorize new fees to fund computerization of or technological advances in the clerk's office; to ensure that after notice to the debtor and an opportunity to enter into an installment payment or community service agreement with the court neither the Registrar of Motor Vehicles nor any deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or transfer of registration of a motor vehicle of a person who fails to pay any fine or costs imposed for offenses by a common pleas, municipal, mayor's, or county court; and to require a court in determining the sentence for a criminal offense to consider emotional, mental, or physical conditions traceable to an offender's military service that contributed to the offender's commission of the offense and to consider the offender's military service record.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-5)

Status: (Passed) 2013-03-22 - Effective Date [HB197 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2011-HB197-Engrossed.html

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As Passed by the House

129th General Assembly Regular Session 2011-2012

Am. Sub. H. B. No. 197

Representative Slesnick 

Cosponsors: Representatives Fende, Letson, Murray, O'Brien, Patmon, Yuko, Blair, Combs, Johnson, Milkovich, Terhar Speaker Batchelder 

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A BILL

To amend sections 1901.261, 1901.31, 1907.20,

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1907.26, 1907.261, and 4503.39 and to enact

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sections 1901.44, 1905.202, 1907.25, and 2947.09

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of the Revised Code to require that all moneys

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collected by the clerk of a municipal or county

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court be paid to the appropriate person, fund, or

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entity on or before the twentieth day of the month

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following the month in which they are collected;

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to authorize a municipal, mayor's, or county court

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to require community service in lieu of costs if

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at the time of sentencing or any time after

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sentencing the court finds that the offender

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cannot pay costs; to authorize a municipal,

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mayor's, or county court to allow payment of costs

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in installments if at the time of sentencing or at

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any time after sentencing the court finds that the

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offender will not be able to pay costs in full

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when due; and to ensure that after notice to the

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debtor and an opportunity to enter into an

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installment payment or community service agreement

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with the court neither the Registrar of Motor

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Vehicles nor any deputy registrar accepts any

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application for the registration or transfer of

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registration of a motor vehicle of a person who

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fails to pay any fine or costs imposed for

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offenses by a common pleas, municipal, mayor's, or

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county court.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 1901.261, 1901.31, 1907.20, 1907.26,	28
1907.261, and 4503.39 be amended and sections 1901.44, 1905.202,	29
1907.25, and 2947.09 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as	30
follows:	31

Sec. 1901.261.  (A)(1) A municipal court may determine that	32
for the efficient operation of the court additional funds are	33
required to computerize the court, to make available computerized	34
legal research services, or to do both. Upon making a	35
determination that additional funds are required for either or	36
both of those purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of	37
fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code one	38
additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each	39
cause of action or appeal equivalent to one described in division	40
(A), (Q), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall	41
direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.	42

(2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or	43
before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which	44
they are collected to the county treasurer if the court is a	45
county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the	46
court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer	47
shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be	48
disbursed upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation	49
by the board of county commissioners if the court is a	50
county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of	51
the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated	52
municipal court, or upon an order of the court, subject to the	53
court making an annual report available to the public listing the	54
use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the actual	55
cost to the court of computerizing the court, procuring and	56
maintaining computerized legal research services, or both.	57

(3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund	58
described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than	59
sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee	60
described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the	61
court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an	62
appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is	63
a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority	64
of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated	65
municipal court, expend those surplus funds, or upon an order of	66
the court, subject to the court making an annual report available	67
to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend those	68
surplus funds, for other appropriate technological expenses of the	69
court.	70

(B)(1) A municipal court may determine that, for the	71
efficient operation of the court, additional funds are required to	72
computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that	73
determination, may include in its schedule of fees and costs under	74
section 1901.26 of the Revised Code an additional fee not to	75
exceed ten dollars on the filing of each cause of action or	76
appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each	77
certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each	78
aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a	79
judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P),	80
(Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject	81
to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under	82
division (B)(1) of this section shall be paid on or before the	83
twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are	84
collected to the county treasurer if the court is a	85
county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the	86
court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer	87
shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be	88
disbursed, upon an order of the municipal court and subject to an	89
appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is	90
a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority	91
of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated	92
municipal court, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to	93
the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the	94
office of the clerk of the municipal court.	95

(2) If a municipal court makes the determination described in	96
division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners	97
of the county if the court is a county-operated municipal court or	98
the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the	99
court is not a county-operated municipal court, may issue one or	100
more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and	101
maintaining the computer systems for the office of the clerk of	102
the municipal court. In addition to the purposes stated in	103
division (B)(1) of this section for which the moneys collected	104
under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally may	105
be expended to pay debt charges and financing costs related to any	106
general obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of	107
this section as they become due. General obligation bonds issued	108
pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section are Chapter 133.	109
securities.	110

Sec. 1901.31.  The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal	111
court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have	112
powers and duties as follows:	113

(A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or	114
elected as follows:	115

(1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Toledo, Hamilton	116
county, Miami county, Montgomery county, Portage county, and Wayne	117
county municipal courts and through December 31, 2008, the	118
Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, if the population of the territory	119
equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal	120
election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the	121
present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the	122
qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided	123
for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of	124
the Revised Code.	125

The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six	126
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January	127
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's	128
successor is elected and qualified.	129

(b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of	130
courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal	131
court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the	132
compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in	133
semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners	134
prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the	135
clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the	136
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth	137
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common	138
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the	139
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of	140
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county	141
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the	142
annual compensation that is received for the performance of the	143
duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in	144
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.	145

(c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts,	146
the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be	147
the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county	148
municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each	149
branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the	150
Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal	151
court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the	152
compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks	153
of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks	154
of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and	155
assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation	156
payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at	157
one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of	158
common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of	159
the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18	160
of the Revised Code.	161

(d) In the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal	162
courts, the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county	163
shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Montgomery county and	164
Miami county municipal courts. The clerks of courts of Montgomery	165
county and Miami county, acting as the clerks of the Montgomery	166
county and Miami county municipal courts and assuming the duties	167
of these offices, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the	168
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas	169
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and	170
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised	171
Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in	172
semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual	173
compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of	174
the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, as	175
provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.	176

(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of	177
this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for	178
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by	179
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day	180
specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination	181
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of	182
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations	183
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the	184
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of	185
clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least	186
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.	187

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and	188
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not	189
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the	190
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or	191
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and	192
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the	193
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the	194
Revised Code.	195

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by	196
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	197
party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal	198
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of	199
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office.	200
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and	201
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	202
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be	203
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for	204
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a	205
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section	206
3513.02 of the Revised Code.	207

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating	208
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk	209
of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the	210
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following	211
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be	212
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court	213
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised	214
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so	215
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term	216
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's	217
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and	218
qualified.	219

(f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of	220
this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for	221
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by	222
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day	223
specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the	224
nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary	225
provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the	226
declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and	227
the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office	228
of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at	229
least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.	230

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and	231
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not	232
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the	233
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or	234
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and	235
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the	236
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the	237
Revised Code.	238

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by	239
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	240
party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton	241
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the	242
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to	243
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of	244
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a	245
particular political party for election to that office, a primary	246
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a	247
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the	248
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the	249
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.	250

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating	251
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk	252
of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of	253
the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following	254
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be	255
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court	256
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised	257
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so	258
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term	259
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's	260
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and	261
qualified.	262

(g)(i) Through December 31, 2008, except as otherwise	263
provided in division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section, in the Cuyahoga	264
Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of	265
clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The	266
primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter	267
of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal	268
officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section	269
3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of	270
candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating	271
petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the	272
Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty	273
qualified electors of the territory of the court.	274

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and	275
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not	276
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the	277
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or	278
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and	279
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the	280
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the	281
Revised Code.	282

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by	283
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	284
party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls	285
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the	286
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to	287
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of	288
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a	289
particular political party for election to that office, a primary	290
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a	291
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the	292
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the	293
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.	294

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating	295
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk	296
of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation	297
of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the	298
following regular municipal election, all candidates for the	299
office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the	300
territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section	301
1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the	302
court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six	303
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January	304
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's	305
successor is elected and qualified.	306

(ii) Division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section shall have no	307
effect after December 31, 2008.	308

(h) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(h) of	309
this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for	310
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by	311
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day	312
specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination	313
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of	314
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations	315
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the	316
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of	317
clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least	318
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.	319

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and	320
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not	321
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the	322
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or	323
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and	324
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the	325
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the	326
Revised Code.	327

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by	328
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	329
party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal	330
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of	331
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office.	332
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and	333
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political	334
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be	335
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for	336
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a	337
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section	338
3513.02 of the Revised Code.	339

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating	340
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk	341
of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the	342
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following	343
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be	344
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court	345
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised	346
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so	347
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term	348
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's	349
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and	350
qualified.	351

(2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown	352
county, Columbiana county, Holmes county, Putnam county, Sandusky	353
county, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a	354
municipal court for which the population of the territory is less	355
than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the	356
court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor	357
is appointed and qualified.	358

(b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown	359
municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office	360
as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.	361

(c) In the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county,	362
Putnam county, and Sandusky county municipal courts, the clerks of	363
courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam	364
county, and Sandusky county shall be the clerks, respectively, of	365
the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam county,	366
and Sandusky county municipal courts and may appoint a chief	367
deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant	368
to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as	369
the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall	370
receive the compensation that the legislative authority	371
prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county,	372
Holmes county, Putnam county, and Sandusky county, acting as the	373
clerks of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam	374
county, and Sandusky county municipal courts and assuming the	375
duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from	376
the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the	377
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas	378
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and	379
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised	380
Code.	381

(d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of	382
courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal	383
court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office	384
that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised	385
Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the	386
court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and	387
assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the	388
legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of	389
Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county	390
municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall	391
receive in either biweekly installments or semimonthly	392
installments, as determined by the payroll administrator,	393
compensation payable from the county treasury at one-fourth the	394
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas	395
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and	396
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised	397
Code.	398

(3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness,	399
vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary	400
clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same	401
authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.	402

(B) Except in the Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami	403
county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a	404
vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain,	405
Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office	406
of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the	407
territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk	408
ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or	409
because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be	410
filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person	411
chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are	412
members of the county central committee of the political party by	413
which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was	414
nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a	415
vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee	416
shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least	417
four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a	418
secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such	419
member of that county central committee by first class mail of the	420
date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority	421
of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a	422
quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the	423
appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be	424
occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if	425
the appointment was not made by the committee members in	426
accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment	427
to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the	428
office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that	429
is held more than one hundred thirty-five days after the vacancy	430
occurred.	431

(C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county,	432
the Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Holmes county, the	433
Putnam county, the Sandusky county, and the Lorain municipal	434
courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one	435
hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive	436
the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court	437
prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar	438
year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the	439
municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the	440
case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is	441
equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt	442
charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter	443
from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated	444
municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as	445
also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the	446
revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the	447
Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Putnam county, the	448
Sandusky county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the	449
population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for	450
the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or	451
greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for	452
that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court	453
shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative	454
authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means	455
the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the	456
city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county	457
treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of	458
this section and all interest received and paid to the city	459
treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county	460
treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of	461
this section.	462

(2) In a municipal court, other than the Hamilton county,	463
Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county	464
municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one	465
hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the	466
clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in	467
a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of	468
the court.	469

(3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1)	470
or (2) of this section and of the clerk of the Columbiana county	471
municipal court is payable in either semimonthly installments or	472
biweekly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator,	473
from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in	474
section 1901.11 of the Revised Code, except that the compensation	475
of the clerk of the Carroll county municipal court is payable in	476
biweekly installments.	477

(D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office,	478
the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than	479
six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court,	480
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.	481

(E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the	482
following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions	483
upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for	484
unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all	485
writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court;	486
and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings	487
fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to	488
accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a	489
person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under	490
section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain	491
leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the	492
following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and	493
papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the	494
proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges	495
of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts	496
and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection	497
at all times.	498

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a	499
docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all	500
of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket,	501
the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an	502
action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the	503
counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates,	504
the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of	505
summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings.	506
The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders,	507
judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the	508
relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order	509
an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered,	510
under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of	511
any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as	512
costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party	513
demanding the record, upon order of the court.	514

(F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect,	515
and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other	516
moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The	517
clerk shall eachon or before the twentieth day of the month	518
following the month in which they are collected disburse to the	519
proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs,	520
fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects.	521
Subject to sections 307.515 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and	522
to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific	523
manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court	524
and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa	525
county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received	526
for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the	527
municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and	528
shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions	529
adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of	530
the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution	531
of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193	532
of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and	533
Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent	534
of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and	535
fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township	536
resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or	537
Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county.	538
Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised	539
Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a	540
specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a	541
municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the	542
violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a	543
county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and	544
fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in	545
the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a	546
county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the	547
disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised	548
Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for	549
costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall	550
keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil	551
and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of	552
the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk	553
shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk	554
shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or	555
order of the court.	556

(G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on	557
the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be	558
deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and	559
loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised	560
Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon	561
the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in	562
a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into	563
the treasury of the county in which the court is located.	564

On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall	565
make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were	566
finally determined more than one year past in which there remains	567
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of	568
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the	569
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who	570
are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All	571
the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each	572
year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except	573
that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be	574
paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located.	575
The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the	576
person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification	577
of the clerk.	578

(H) Deputy clerks of a municipal court other than the Carroll	579
county municipal court may be appointed by the clerk and shall	580
receive the compensation, payable in either biweekly installments	581
or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll	582
administrator, out of the city treasury, that the clerk may	583
prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a	584
county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury	585
of the county in which the court is located. The judge of the	586
Carroll county municipal court may appoint deputy clerks for the	587
court, and the deputy clerks shall receive the compensation,	588
payable in biweekly installments out of the county treasury, that	589
the judge may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of	590
office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's	591
office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining	592
to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the	593
deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand	594
dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy	595
clerk's duties.	596

(I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population	597
of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred	598
thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the	599
territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded	600
one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal	601
corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall	602
be considered to have a population of at least one hundred	603
thousand.	604

(J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all	605
sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the	606
courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and	607
receive verdicts.	608

Sec. 1901.44.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of	609
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time	610
after sentencing a municipal court finds that a person who is	611
found guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may	612
order the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.	613

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code,	614
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a	615
municipal court finds that a person who is found guilty of an	616
offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due,	617
the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments	618
according to a schedule set by the court.	619

(B) If a person is charged with an offense in municipal court	620
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place	621
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the	622
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any	623
fine or costs imposed by the court, the court shall send the	624
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known	625
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount	626
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court	627
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The	628
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely	629
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor	630
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a	631
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of	632
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with	633
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform	634
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include	635
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment	636
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may	637
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or	638
transfer of registration!"	639

If a person does not enter into an agreement under this	640
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered	641
into under this division, the court may enter information relative	642
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine	643
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar	644
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the	645
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any	646
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any	647
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or	648
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by	649
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the	650
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar	651
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of	652
the Revised Code.	653

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of	654
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under	655
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or	656
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine	657
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the	658
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the	659
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the	660
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the	661
form to the registrar.	662

(C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to	663
municipal courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of	664
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of	665
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The	666
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.	667

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or	668
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar	669
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission,	670
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form	671
that is not transmitted electronically.	672

Sec. 1905.202.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of	673
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time	674
after sentencing a mayor's court finds that a person who is found	675
guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order	676
the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.	677

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code,	678
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a	679
mayor's court finds that a person who is found guilty of an	680
offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due,	681
the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments	682
according to a schedule set by the court.	683

(B) If a person is charged with an offense in mayor's court	684
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place	685
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the	686
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any	687
fine or costs imposed by the court, the court shall send the	688
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known	689
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount	690
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court	691
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The	692
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely	693
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor	694
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a	695
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of	696
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with	697
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform	698
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include	699
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment	700
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may	701
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or	702
transfer of registration!"	703

If a person does not enter into an agreement under this	704
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered	705
into under this division, the court may enter information relative	706
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine	707
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar	708
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the	709
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any	710
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any	711
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or	712
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by	713
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the	714
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar	715
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of	716
the Revised Code.	717

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of	718
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under	719
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or	720
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine	721
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the	722
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the	723
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the	724
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the	725
form to the registrar.	726

(C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to	727
mayor's courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of	728
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of	729
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The	730
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.	731

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or	732
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar	733
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission,	734
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form	735
that is not transmitted electronically.	736

Sec. 1907.20.  (A) The clerk of courts shall be the clerk of	737
the county court, except that the board of county commissioners,	738
with the concurrence of the county court judges, may appoint a	739
clerk for each county court judge, who shall serve at the pleasure	740
of the board and shall receive compensation as set by the board,	741
payable in semimonthly installments from the treasury of the	742
county. An appointed clerk, before entering upon the duties of the	743
office, shall give bond of not less than five thousand dollars, as	744
determined by the board of county commissioners, conditioned upon	745
the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.	746

The clerks of courts of common pleas, when acting as the	747
clerks of county courts, and upon assuming their county court	748
duties, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate	749
prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined	750
in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set	751
forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This	752
compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly	753
installments and is in addition to the annual compensation	754
received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of a court	755
of common pleas as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the	756
Revised Code.	757

(B) The clerk of a county court shall have general powers to	758
administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any	759
judgment rendered in the county court, including a judgment for	760
unpaid costs, power to issue and sign all writs, process,	761
subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court, and to attach the	762
seal of the court to them, and power to approve all bonds,	763
sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of	764
the court or by law. The clerk shall file and safely keep all	765
journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to	766
the court, record its proceedings, perform all other duties that	767
the judges of the court may prescribe, and keep a book showing all	768
receipts and disbursements, which shall be open for public	769
inspection at all times. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing	770
any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has	771
been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of	772
the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed	773
under that section.	774

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a	775
docket as prescribed by the court, which shall be furnished by the	776
board of county commissioners, and such other records as the	777
court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records	778
of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter at times of the	779
commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the	780
names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under	781
proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint,	782
issuing of summons or other process, returns, and pleadings	783
subsequent thereto. The clerk also shall enter all reports,	784
verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly	785
specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The	786
court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made	787
and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at	788
the request of any party to the case, the expense of which may be	789
taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the	790
party demanding the extended record, upon order of the court.	791

(C) The clerk of a county court shall receive and collect all	792
costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys payable to	793
the office or to any officer of the court and issue receipts	794
therefor, and shall eachon or before the twentieth day of the	795
month following the month in which they are collected disburse the	796
costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys to the	797
proper persons or officers and take receipts therefor. Subject to	798
sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised	799
Code and all other statutes that require a different distribution	800
of fines, fines received for violations of municipal ordinances	801
shall be paid into the treasury of the municipal corporation whose	802
ordinance was violated, fines received for violations of township	803
resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or	804
Chapter 504. of the Revised Code shall be paid into the treasury	805
of the township whose resolution was violated, and fines collected	806
for the violation of state laws shall be paid into the county	807
treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained	808
pending the litigation.	809

The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and	810
disbursements in civil and criminal cases. The separate account	811
shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the	812
expiration of a clerk's term, those records shall be delivered to	813
the clerk's successor.	814

The clerk shall have such other powers and duties as are	815
prescribed by rule or order of the court.	816

(D) All moneys paid into a county court shall be noted on the	817
record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited	818
in a state or national bank selected by the clerk. On the first	819
Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the	820
titles of all cases in the county court that were finally	821
determined more than one year past in which there remains	822
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of	823
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the	824
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties	825
entitled to them or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys	826
remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall	827
be paid by the clerk to the county treasurer. Any part of the	828
moneys shall be paid by the county treasurer at any time to the	829
person having the right to them, upon proper certification of the	830
clerk.	831

(E)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks,	832
deputy clerks may be appointed by the board of county	833
commissioners. Clerks and deputy clerks shall receive such	834
compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county	835
treasury as the board may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take	836
an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy	837
clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties	838
appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any	839
of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand	840
dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy	841
clerk's duties.	842

(2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may	843
appoint deputy clerks to perform the duties pertaining to the	844
office of clerk of the county court. Each deputy clerk shall take	845
an oath of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties,	846
and the clerk of courts may require the deputy clerk to give bond	847
of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the	848
faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.	849

(3) The clerk or a deputy clerk of a county court shall be in	850
attendance at all sessions of the court, although not necessarily	851
in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors	852
and receive verdicts.	853

(F)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, the	854
board of county commissioners may order the establishment of one	855
or more branch offices of the clerk and, with the concurrence of	856
the county judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to	857
administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall	858
take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the	859
deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform any one	860
or more of the duties appertaining to the office of clerk, as the	861
board prescribes. Special deputy clerks shall receive such	862
compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county	863
treasury as the board may prescribe. The board may require any of	864
the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three	865
thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the	866
deputy clerk's duties.	867

The board of county commissioners may authorize the clerk of	868
the county court to operate one or more branch offices, to divide	869
the clerk's time between the offices, and to perform duties	870
appertaining to the office of clerk in locations that the board	871
prescribes.	872

(2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may	873
establish one or more branch offices for the clerk's duties as	874
clerk of the county court and, with the concurrence of the county	875
court judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer	876
each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath	877
of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties and, when	878
so qualified, may perform any of the duties pertaining to the	879
office of clerk, as the clerk of courts prescribes. The clerk of	880
courts may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond	881
of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the	882
faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.	883

(G) The clerk of courts of the county shall fix the	884
compensation of deputy clerks and special deputy clerks appointed	885
by the clerk pursuant to this section. Those personnel shall be	886
paid and be subject to the same requirements as other employees of	887
the clerk under the provisions of section 325.17 of the Revised	888
Code insofar as that section is applicable.	889

Sec. 1907.25.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of	890
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time	891
after sentencing a county court finds that a person who is found	892
guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order	893
the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.	894

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code,	895
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a	896
county court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense	897
will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, the court	898
may order the offender to pay the costs in installments according	899
to a schedule set by the court.	900

(B) If a person is charged with an offense in county court	901
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place	902
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the	903
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any	904
fine or costs imposed by the court, the court shall send the	905
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known	906
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount	907
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court	908
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The	909
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely	910
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor	911
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a	912
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of	913
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with	914
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform	915
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include	916
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment	917
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may	918
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or	919
transfer of registration!"	920

If a person does not enter into an agreement under this	921
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered	922
into under this division, the court may enter information relative	923
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine	924
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar	925
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the	926
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any	927
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any	928
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or	929
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by	930
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the	931
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar	932
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of	933
the Revised Code.	934

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of	935
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under	936
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or	937
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine	938
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the	939
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the	940
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the	941
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the	942
form to the registrar.	943

(C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to	944
county courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of	945
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of	946
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The	947
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.	948

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or	949
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar	950
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission,	951
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form	952
that is not transmitted electronically.	953

Sec. 1907.26.  Judges of a county court shall not retain any	954
of the costs or fees specified in the schedules adopted pursuant	955
to section 1907.24 of the Revised Code nor shall they retain a fee	956
for performing a marriage ceremony. Those costs and fees that	957
cannot be retained shall be transmitted to the general fund of the	958
county on or before the first businesstwentieth day of eachthe	959
month following the month in which they are collected.	960

Sec. 1907.261.  (A)(1) A county court may determine that for	961
the efficient operation of the court additional funds are required	962
to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal	963
research services, or to do both. Upon making a determination that	964
additional funds are required for either or both of those	965
purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of fees and	966
costs under section 1907.24 of the Revised Code one additional fee	967
not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action	968
or appeal equivalent to one described in division (A), (Q), or (U)	969
of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall direct the clerk	970
of the court to charge the fee.	971

(2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or	972
before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which	973
they are collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall	974
place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed	975
either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by	976
the board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court,	977
subject to the court making an annual report available to the	978
public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater	979
than the actual cost to the court of computerizing the court,	980
procuring and maintaining computerized legal research services, or	981
both.	982

(3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund	983
described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than	984
sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee	985
described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the	986
court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an	987
appropriation by the board of county commissioners, expend those	988
surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court	989
making an annual report available to the public listing the use of	990
all such funds, expend those surplus funds, for other appropriate	991
technological expenses of the court.	992

(B)(1) A county court may determine that, for the efficient	993
operation of the court, additional funds are required to	994
computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that	995
determination, may include in its schedule of fees and costs under	996
section 1907.24 of the Revised Code an additional fee not to	997
exceed ten dollars on the filing of each cause of action or	998
appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each	999
certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each	1000
aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a	1001
judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P),	1002
(Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject	1003
to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under	1004
division (B)(1) of this section shall be paid on or before the	1005
twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are	1006
collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the	1007
funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed, upon an	1008
order of the county court and subject to an appropriation by the	1009
board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the	1010
actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer	1011
systems for the office of the clerk of the county court.	1012

(2) If a county court makes the determination described in	1013
division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners	1014
of that county may issue one or more general obligation bonds for	1015
the purpose of procuring and maintaining the computer systems for	1016
the office of the clerk of the county court. In addition to the	1017
purposes stated in division (B)(1) of this section for which the	1018
moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys	1019
additionally may be expended to pay debt charges and financing	1020
costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to	1021
division (B)(2) of this section as they become due. General	1022
obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of this	1023
section are Chapter 133. securities.	1024

Sec. 2947.09.  (A) If a person is charged with an offense in	1025
a court of common pleas and either fails to appear in court at the	1026
required time and place to answer the charge or pleads guilty to	1027
or is found guilty of the offense and fails within the time	1028
allowed by the court to pay any fine or costs imposed by the	1029
court, the court shall send the person a notice by ordinary mail	1030
at the person's last known address stating that there is a balance	1031
due, specifying the amount of the balance due, and directing the	1032
person to contact the court clerk's office within ten days of the	1033
date of the notice. The notice shall include the sentence:	1034
"WARNING: Failure to timely respond to this notice may result in	1035
the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or transfer of	1036
registration!" To avoid a block on the person's motor vehicle	1037
registration or transfer of registration, the person may enter	1038
into a written agreement with the court to pay the balance due in	1039
installments or to perform community service in lieu of payment.	1040
The agreement shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to	1041
comply with the payment schedule or to complete your community	1042
service requirement may result in the blocking of your motor	1043
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!"	1044

If a person does not enter into an agreement under this	1045
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered	1046
into under this division, the court may enter information relative	1047
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine	1048
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar	1049
pursuant to division (B) of this section and send the form to the	1050
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any	1051
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any	1052
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or	1053
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by	1054
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the	1055
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar	1056
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of	1057
the Revised Code.	1058

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of	1059
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under	1060
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or	1061
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine	1062
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the	1063
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the	1064
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the	1065
registrar pursuant to division (B) of this section and sending the	1066
form to the registrar.	1067

(B) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to	1068
courts of common pleas forms to be used for a notice to the	1069
registrar of failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the	1070
registrar of payment of fines or costs under division (A) of this	1071
section. The registrar may approve the use of other forms for	1072
these purposes.	1073

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or	1074
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar	1075
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission,	1076
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form	1077
that is not transmitted electronically.	1078

Sec. 4503.39.  With regard to a motor vehicle leased by or in	1079
the name of a person named in a suspension order or who is	1080
precluded from registering or transferring registration of a motor	1081
vehicle because of a failure to pay a fine or court costs, the	1082
registrar of motor vehicles shall adopt procedures as indicated in	1083
division (B) of section 1901.44, division (B) of section 1905.202,	1084
division (B) of section 1907.25, division (D) of section 2935.27,	1085
division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) of section 2947.09,	1086
and division (B) of section 4510.22 of the Revised Code. The	1087
procedures shall prescribe the information and methodology	1088
necessary to implement those divisions.	1089

Section 2.  That existing sections 1901.261, 1901.31,	1090
1907.20, 1907.26, 1907.261, and 4503.39 of the Revised Code are	1091
hereby repealed.	1092