As Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
Sub. H. B. No. 197


Representative Slesnick 

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

Senator Wagoner 

A BILL
To amend sections 1901.261, 1901.31, 1907.20, 1
1907.26, 1907.261, 2303.201, and 4503.39 and to 2
enact sections 1901.44, 1905.202, 1907.25, and 3
2947.09 of the Revised Code to require that all 4
moneys collected by the clerk of a municipal or 5
county court be paid to the appropriate person, 6
fund, or entity on or before the twentieth day of 7
the month following the month in which they are 8
collected; to authorize a municipal, mayor's, or 9
county court to require community service in lieu 10
of costs if at the time of sentencing or any time 11
after sentencing the court finds that the offender 12
cannot pay costs; to authorize a municipal, 13
mayor's, or county court to allow payment of costs 14
in installments if at the time of sentencing or at 15
any time after sentencing the court finds that the 16
offender will not be able to pay costs in full 17
when due; to raise the ceilings on the optional 18
additional fees that a court of common pleas may 19
charge to fund court computerization or 20
computerization of the court clerk's office; to 21
authorize use of the additional clerk's fees to 22
fund technological advances in the clerk's office; 23
to authorize new fees to fund computerization of 24
or technological advances in the clerk's office; 25
and to ensure that after notice to the debtor and 26
an opportunity to enter into an installment 27
payment or community service agreement with the 28
court neither the Registrar of Motor Vehicles nor 29
any deputy registrar accepts any application for 30
the registration or transfer of registration of a 31
motor vehicle of a person who fails to pay any 32
fine or costs imposed for offenses by a common 33
pleas, municipal, mayor's, or county court.34


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

       Section 1. That sections 1901.261, 1901.31, 1907.20, 1907.26, 35
1907.261, 2303.201, and 4503.39 be amended and sections 1901.44, 36
1905.202, 1907.25, and 2947.09 of the Revised Code be enacted to 37
read as follows:38

       Sec. 1901.261.  (A)(1) A municipal court may determine that 39
for the efficient operation of the court additional funds are 40
required to computerize the court, to make available computerized 41
legal research services, or to do both. Upon making a 42
determination that additional funds are required for either or 43
both of those purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of 44
fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code one 45
additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each 46
cause of action or appeal equivalent to one described in division 47
(A), (Q), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall 48
direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.49

       (2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or 50
before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which 51
they are collected to the county treasurer if the court is a 52
county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the 53
court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer 54
shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be 55
disbursed upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation 56
by the board of county commissioners if the court is a 57
county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of 58
the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated 59
municipal court, or upon an order of the court, subject to the 60
court making an annual report available to the public listing the 61
use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the actual 62
cost to the court of computerizing the court, procuring and 63
maintaining computerized legal research services, or both.64

       (3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund 65
described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than 66
sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee 67
described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the 68
court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an 69
appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is 70
a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority 71
of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated 72
municipal court, expend those surplus funds, or upon an order of 73
the court, subject to the court making an annual report available 74
to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend those 75
surplus funds, for other appropriate technological expenses of the 76
court.77

       (B)(1) A municipal court may determine that, for the 78
efficient operation of the court, additional funds are required to 79
computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that 80
determination, may include in its schedule of fees and costs under 81
section 1901.26 of the Revised Code an additional fee not to 82
exceed ten dollars on the filing of each cause of action or 83
appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each 84
certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each 85
aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a 86
judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P), 87
(Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject 88
to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under 89
division (B)(1) of this section shall be paid on or before the 90
twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are 91
collected to the county treasurer if the court is a 92
county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the 93
court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer 94
shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be 95
disbursed, upon an order of the municipal court and subject to an 96
appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is 97
a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority 98
of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated 99
municipal court, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to 100
the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the 101
office of the clerk of the municipal court.102

       (2) If a municipal court makes the determination described in 103
division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners 104
of the county if the court is a county-operated municipal court or 105
the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the 106
court is not a county-operated municipal court, may issue one or 107
more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and 108
maintaining the computer systems for the office of the clerk of 109
the municipal court. In addition to the purposes stated in 110
division (B)(1) of this section for which the moneys collected 111
under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally may 112
be expended to pay debt charges and financing costs related to any 113
general obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of 114
this section as they become due. General obligation bonds issued 115
pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section are Chapter 133. 116
securities.117

       Sec. 1901.31.  The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal 118
court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have 119
powers and duties as follows:120

       (A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or 121
elected as follows:122

       (1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Toledo, Hamilton 123
county, Miami county, Montgomery county, Portage county, and Wayne 124
county municipal courts and through December 31, 2008, the 125
Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, if the population of the territory 126
equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal 127
election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the 128
present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the 129
qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided 130
for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of 131
the Revised Code.132

       The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six 133
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January 134
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's 135
successor is elected and qualified.136

       (b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of 137
courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal 138
court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the 139
compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in 140
semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners 141
prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the 142
clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the 143
duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth 144
the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common 145
pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the 146
county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of 147
the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county 148
treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the 149
annual compensation that is received for the performance of the 150
duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in 151
sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.152

       (c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, 153
the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be 154
the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county 155
municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each 156
branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the 157
Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal 158
court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the 159
compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks 160
of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks 161
of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and 162
assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation 163
payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at 164
one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of 165
common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of 166
the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 167
of the Revised Code.168

       (d) In the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal 169
courts, the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county 170
shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Montgomery county and 171
Miami county municipal courts. The clerks of courts of Montgomery 172
county and Miami county, acting as the clerks of the Montgomery 173
county and Miami county municipal courts and assuming the duties 174
of these offices, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the 175
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas 176
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and 177
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised 178
Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in 179
semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual 180
compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of 181
the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, as 182
provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. 183

       (e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of 184
this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for 185
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 186
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 187
specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination 188
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of 189
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations 190
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the 191
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of 192
clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least 193
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.194

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 195
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 196
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the 197
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 198
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and 199
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the 200
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the 201
Revised Code.202

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 203
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 204
party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal 205
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of 206
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. 207
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and 208
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 209
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be 210
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for 211
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a 212
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 213
3513.02 of the Revised Code.214

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 215
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 216
of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the 217
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 218
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 219
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 220
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 221
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 222
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 223
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 224
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 225
qualified.226

        (f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of 227
this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for 228
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 229
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 230
specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the 231
nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary 232
provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the 233
declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and 234
the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office 235
of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at 236
least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.237

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 238
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 239
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the 240
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 241
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and 242
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the 243
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the 244
Revised Code.245

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 246
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 247
party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton 248
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the 249
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to 250
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of 251
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a 252
particular political party for election to that office, a primary 253
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a 254
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the 255
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the 256
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.257

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 258
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 259
of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of 260
the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 261
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 262
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 263
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 264
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 265
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 266
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 267
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 268
qualified.269

       (g)(i) Through December 31, 2008, except as otherwise 270
provided in division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section, in the Cuyahoga 271
Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of 272
clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The 273
primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter 274
of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal 275
officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 276
3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of 277
candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating 278
petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the 279
Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty 280
qualified electors of the territory of the court.281

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 282
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 283
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the 284
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 285
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and 286
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the 287
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the 288
Revised Code.289

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 290
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 291
party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls 292
municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the 293
purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to 294
that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of 295
candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a 296
particular political party for election to that office, a primary 297
election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a 298
candidate of that party for election to that office, and the 299
candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the 300
manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.301

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 302
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 303
of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation 304
of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the 305
following regular municipal election, all candidates for the 306
office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the 307
territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 308
1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the 309
court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six 310
years, which term shall commence on the first day of January 311
following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's 312
successor is elected and qualified.313

       (ii) Division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section shall have no 314
effect after December 31, 2008.315

       (h) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(h) of 316
this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for 317
election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by 318
primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day 319
specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination 320
of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of 321
section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations 322
of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the 323
nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of 324
clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least 325
fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.326

       The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and 327
petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not 328
later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the 329
primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 330
3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and 331
petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the 332
applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the 333
Revised Code.334

       If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by 335
any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 336
party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal 337
court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of 338
nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. 339
If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and 340
petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political 341
party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be 342
held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for 343
election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a 344
certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 345
3513.02 of the Revised Code.346

       Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating 347
petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk 348
of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the 349
term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following 350
regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be 351
submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court 352
in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised 353
Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so 354
elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term 355
shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's 356
election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and 357
qualified.358

       (2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown 359
county, Columbiana county, Holmes county, Putnam county, Sandusky 360
county, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a 361
municipal court for which the population of the territory is less 362
than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the 363
court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor 364
is appointed and qualified.365

       (b) In the Alliance, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown 366
municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office 367
as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.368

       (c) In the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, 369
Putnam county, and Sandusky county municipal courts, the clerks of 370
courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam 371
county, and Sandusky county shall be the clerks, respectively, of 372
the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam county, 373
and Sandusky county municipal courts and may appoint a chief 374
deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant 375
to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as 376
the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall 377
receive the compensation that the legislative authority 378
prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, 379
Holmes county, Putnam county, and Sandusky county, acting as the 380
clerks of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Putnam 381
county, and Sandusky county municipal courts and assuming the 382
duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from 383
the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the 384
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas 385
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and 386
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised 387
Code.388

       (d) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of 389
courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal 390
court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office 391
that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised 392
Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the 393
court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and 394
assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the 395
legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of 396
Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county 397
municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall 398
receive in either biweekly installments or semimonthly 399
installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, 400
compensation payable from the county treasury at one-fourth the 401
rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas 402
as determined in accordance with the population of the county and 403
the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised 404
Code.405

       (3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, 406
vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary 407
clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same 408
authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.409

       (B) Except in the Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami 410
county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a 411
vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lorain, 412
Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office 413
of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the 414
territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk 415
ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or 416
because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be 417
filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person 418
chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are 419
members of the county central committee of the political party by 420
which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was 421
nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a 422
vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee 423
shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least 424
four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a 425
secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such 426
member of that county central committee by first class mail of the 427
date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority 428
of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a 429
quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the 430
appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be 431
occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if 432
the appointment was not made by the committee members in 433
accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment 434
to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the 435
office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that 436
is held more than one hundred thirty-five days after the vacancy 437
occurred.438

       (C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, 439
the Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Holmes county, the 440
Putnam county, the Sandusky county, and the Lorain municipal 441
courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one 442
hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive 443
the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court 444
prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar 445
year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the 446
municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the 447
case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is 448
equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt 449
charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter 450
from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated 451
municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as 452
also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the 453
revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the 454
Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Putnam county, the 455
Sandusky county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the 456
population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for 457
the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or 458
greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for 459
that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court 460
shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative 461
authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means 462
the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the 463
city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county 464
treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of 465
this section and all interest received and paid to the city 466
treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county 467
treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of 468
this section.469

       (2) In a municipal court, other than the Hamilton county, 470
Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county 471
municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one 472
hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the 473
clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in 474
a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of 475
the court.476

       (3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) 477
or (2) of this section and of the clerk of the Columbiana county 478
municipal court is payable in either semimonthly installments or 479
biweekly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, 480
from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in 481
section 1901.11 of the Revised Code, except that the compensation 482
of the clerk of the Carroll county municipal court is payable in 483
biweekly installments.484

       (D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, 485
the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than 486
six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, 487
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.488

       (E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the 489
following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions 490
upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for 491
unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all 492
writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; 493
and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings 494
fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to 495
accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a 496
person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under 497
section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain 498
leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the 499
following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and 500
papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the 501
proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges 502
of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts 503
and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection 504
at all times.505

       The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a 506
docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all 507
of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, 508
the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an 509
action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the 510
counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, 511
the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of 512
summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. 513
The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, 514
judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the 515
relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order 516
an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, 517
under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of 518
any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as 519
costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party 520
demanding the record, upon order of the court.521

       (F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, 522
and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other 523
moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The 524
clerk shall eachon or before the twentieth day of the month 525
following the month in which they are collected disburse to the 526
proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs, 527
fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects. 528
Subject to sections 307.515 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and 529
to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific 530
manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court 531
and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa 532
county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received 533
for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the 534
municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and 535
shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions 536
adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of 537
the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution 538
of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 539
of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and 540
Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent 541
of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and 542
fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township 543
resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or 544
Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. 545
Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised 546
Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a 547
specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a 548
municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the 549
violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a 550
county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and 551
fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in 552
the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a 553
county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the 554
disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised 555
Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for 556
costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall 557
keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil 558
and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of 559
the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk 560
shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk 561
shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or 562
order of the court.563

       (G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on 564
the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be 565
deposited in a state or national bank, or a domestic savings and 566
loan association, as defined in section 1151.01 of the Revised 567
Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon 568
the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in 569
a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into 570
the treasury of the county in which the court is located.571

       On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall 572
make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were 573
finally determined more than one year past in which there remains 574
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of 575
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the 576
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who 577
are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All 578
the moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each 579
year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except 580
that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be 581
paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. 582
The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the 583
person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification 584
of the clerk.585

       (H) Deputy clerks of a municipal court other than the Carroll 586
county municipal court may be appointed by the clerk and shall 587
receive the compensation, payable in either biweekly installments 588
or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll 589
administrator, out of the city treasury, that the clerk may 590
prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a 591
county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury 592
of the county in which the court is located. The judge of the 593
Carroll county municipal court may appoint deputy clerks for the 594
court, and the deputy clerks shall receive the compensation, 595
payable in biweekly installments out of the county treasury, that 596
the judge may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of 597
office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's 598
office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining 599
to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the 600
deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand 601
dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy 602
clerk's duties.603

       (I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population 604
of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred 605
thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the 606
territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded 607
one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal 608
corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall 609
be considered to have a population of at least one hundred 610
thousand.611

       (J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all 612
sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the 613
courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and 614
receive verdicts.615

       Sec. 1901.44.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of 616
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time 617
after sentencing a municipal court finds that a person who is 618
found guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may 619
order the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs. 620

       (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, 621
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a 622
municipal court finds that a person who is found guilty of an 623
offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, 624
the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments 625
according to a schedule set by the court.626

       (B) If a person is charged with an offense in municipal court 627
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place 628
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the 629
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any 630
fine or costs imposed by the court, unless the court previously 631
has given written notice to the person, the court shall send the 632
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known 633
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount 634
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court 635
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The 636
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely 637
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor 638
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a 639
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of 640
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with 641
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform 642
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include 643
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment 644
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may 645
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or 646
transfer of registration!" 647

       If a person does not enter into an agreement under this 648
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered 649
into under this division, the court may enter information relative 650
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine 651
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar 652
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the 653
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any 654
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any 655
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or 656
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by 657
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the 658
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar 659
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of 660
the Revised Code.661

       The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of 662
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under 663
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or 664
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine 665
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the 666
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the 667
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the 668
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the 669
form to the registrar. 670

       (C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to 671
municipal courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of 672
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of 673
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The 674
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.675

       The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or 676
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar 677
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, 678
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form 679
that is not transmitted electronically.680

       Sec. 1905.202.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of 681
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time 682
after sentencing a mayor's court finds that a person who is found 683
guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order 684
the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.685

       (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, 686
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a 687
mayor's court finds that a person who is found guilty of an 688
offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, 689
the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments 690
according to a schedule set by the court. 691

       (B) If a person is charged with an offense in mayor's court 692
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place 693
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the 694
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any 695
fine or costs imposed by the court, unless the court previously 696
has given written notice to the person, the court shall send the 697
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known 698
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount 699
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court 700
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The 701
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely 702
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor 703
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a 704
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of 705
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with 706
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform 707
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include 708
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment 709
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may 710
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or 711
transfer of registration!"712

       If a person does not enter into an agreement under this 713
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered 714
into under this division, the court may enter information relative 715
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine 716
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar 717
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the 718
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any 719
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any 720
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or 721
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by 722
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the 723
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar 724
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of 725
the Revised Code.726

       The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of 727
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under 728
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or 729
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine 730
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the 731
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the 732
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the 733
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the 734
form to the registrar. 735

       (C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to 736
mayor's courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of 737
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of 738
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The 739
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.740

       The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or 741
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar 742
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, 743
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form 744
that is not transmitted electronically.745

       Sec. 1907.20.  (A) The clerk of courts shall be the clerk of 746
the county court, except that the board of county commissioners, 747
with the concurrence of the county court judges, may appoint a 748
clerk for each county court judge, who shall serve at the pleasure 749
of the board and shall receive compensation as set by the board, 750
payable in semimonthly installments from the treasury of the 751
county. An appointed clerk, before entering upon the duties of the 752
office, shall give bond of not less than five thousand dollars, as 753
determined by the board of county commissioners, conditioned upon 754
the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.755

       The clerks of courts of common pleas, when acting as the 756
clerks of county courts, and upon assuming their county court 757
duties, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate 758
prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined 759
in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set 760
forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This 761
compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly 762
installments and is in addition to the annual compensation 763
received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of a court 764
of common pleas as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the 765
Revised Code.766

       (B) The clerk of a county court shall have general powers to 767
administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any 768
judgment rendered in the county court, including a judgment for 769
unpaid costs, power to issue and sign all writs, process, 770
subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court, and to attach the 771
seal of the court to them, and power to approve all bonds, 772
sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of 773
the court or by law. The clerk shall file and safely keep all 774
journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to 775
the court, record its proceedings, perform all other duties that 776
the judges of the court may prescribe, and keep a book showing all 777
receipts and disbursements, which shall be open for public 778
inspection at all times. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing 779
any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has 780
been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of 781
the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed 782
under that section.783

       The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a 784
docket as prescribed by the court, which shall be furnished by the 785
board of county commissioners, and such other records as the 786
court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records 787
of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter at times of the 788
commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the 789
names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under 790
proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, 791
issuing of summons or other process, returns, and pleadings 792
subsequent thereto. The clerk also shall enter all reports, 793
verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly 794
specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The 795
court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made 796
and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at 797
the request of any party to the case, the expense of which may be 798
taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the 799
party demanding the extended record, upon order of the court.800

       (C) The clerk of a county court shall receive and collect all 801
costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys payable to 802
the office or to any officer of the court and issue receipts 803
therefor, and shall eachon or before the twentieth day of the804
month following the month in which they are collected disburse the 805
costs, fees, fines, penalties, bail, and other moneys to the 806
proper persons or officers and take receipts therefor. Subject to 807
sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised 808
Code and all other statutes that require a different distribution 809
of fines, fines received for violations of municipal ordinances 810
shall be paid into the treasury of the municipal corporation whose 811
ordinance was violated, fines received for violations of township 812
resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or 813
Chapter 504. of the Revised Code shall be paid into the treasury 814
of the township whose resolution was violated, and fines collected 815
for the violation of state laws shall be paid into the county 816
treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained 817
pending the litigation.818

       The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and 819
disbursements in civil and criminal cases. The separate account 820
shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the 821
expiration of a clerk's term, those records shall be delivered to 822
the clerk's successor.823

       The clerk shall have such other powers and duties as are 824
prescribed by rule or order of the court.825

       (D) All moneys paid into a county court shall be noted on the 826
record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited 827
in a state or national bank selected by the clerk. On the first 828
Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the 829
titles of all cases in the county court that were finally 830
determined more than one year past in which there remains 831
unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of 832
a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the 833
case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties 834
entitled to them or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys 835
remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall 836
be paid by the clerk to the county treasurer. Any part of the 837
moneys shall be paid by the county treasurer at any time to the 838
person having the right to them, upon proper certification of the 839
clerk.840

       (E)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, 841
deputy clerks may be appointed by the board of county 842
commissioners. Clerks and deputy clerks shall receive such 843
compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county 844
treasury as the board may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take 845
an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy 846
clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties 847
appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any 848
of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand 849
dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy 850
clerk's duties.851

       (2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may 852
appoint deputy clerks to perform the duties pertaining to the 853
office of clerk of the county court. Each deputy clerk shall take 854
an oath of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties, 855
and the clerk of courts may require the deputy clerk to give bond 856
of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the 857
faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.858

       (3) The clerk or a deputy clerk of a county court shall be in 859
attendance at all sessions of the court, although not necessarily 860
in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors 861
and receive verdicts.862

       (F)(1) In county court districts having appointed clerks, the 863
board of county commissioners may order the establishment of one 864
or more branch offices of the clerk and, with the concurrence of 865
the county judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to 866
administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall 867
take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the 868
deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform any one 869
or more of the duties appertaining to the office of clerk, as the 870
board prescribes. Special deputy clerks shall receive such 871
compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the county 872
treasury as the board may prescribe. The board may require any of 873
the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three 874
thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the 875
deputy clerk's duties.876

       The board of county commissioners may authorize the clerk of 877
the county court to operate one or more branch offices, to divide 878
the clerk's time between the offices, and to perform duties 879
appertaining to the office of clerk in locations that the board 880
prescribes.881

       (2) A clerk of courts acting as clerk of the county court may 882
establish one or more branch offices for the clerk's duties as 883
clerk of the county court and, with the concurrence of the county 884
court judges, may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer 885
each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath 886
of office before entering upon the deputy clerk's duties and, when 887
so qualified, may perform any of the duties pertaining to the 888
office of clerk, as the clerk of courts prescribes. The clerk of 889
courts may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond 890
of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the 891
faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.892

       (G) The clerk of courts of the county shall fix the 893
compensation of deputy clerks and special deputy clerks appointed 894
by the clerk pursuant to this section. Those personnel shall be 895
paid and be subject to the same requirements as other employees of 896
the clerk under the provisions of section 325.17 of the Revised 897
Code insofar as that section is applicable.898

       Sec. 1907.25.  (A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of 899
the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time 900
after sentencing a county court finds that a person who is found 901
guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order 902
the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.903

       (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, 904
if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a 905
county court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense 906
will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, the court 907
may order the offender to pay the costs in installments according 908
to a schedule set by the court. 909

        (B) If a person is charged with an offense in county court 910
and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place 911
to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the 912
offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any 913
fine or costs imposed by the court, unless the court previously 914
has given written notice to the person, the court shall send the 915
person a notice by ordinary mail at the person's last known 916
address stating that there is a balance due, specifying the amount 917
of the balance due, and directing the person to contact the court 918
clerk's office within ten days of the date of the notice. The 919
notice shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to timely 920
respond to this notice may result in the blocking of your motor 921
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" To avoid a 922
block on the person's motor vehicle registration or transfer of 923
registration, the person may enter into a written agreement with 924
the court to pay the balance due in installments or to perform 925
community service in lieu of payment. The agreement shall include 926
the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to comply with the payment 927
schedule or to complete your community service requirement may 928
result in the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or 929
transfer of registration!"930

       If a person does not enter into an agreement under this 931
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered 932
into under this division, the court may enter information relative 933
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine 934
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar 935
pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the 936
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any 937
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any 938
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or 939
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by 940
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the 941
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar 942
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of 943
the Revised Code.944

       The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of 945
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under 946
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or 947
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine 948
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the 949
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the 950
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the 951
registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the 952
form to the registrar. 953

       (C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to 954
county courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of 955
failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of 956
payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The 957
registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.958

       The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or 959
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar 960
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, 961
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form 962
that is not transmitted electronically.963

       Sec. 1907.26.  Judges of a county court shall not retain any 964
of the costs or fees specified in the schedules adopted pursuant 965
to section 1907.24 of the Revised Code nor shall they retain a fee 966
for performing a marriage ceremony. Those costs and fees that 967
cannot be retained shall be transmitted to the general fund of the 968
county on or before the first businesstwentieth day of eachthe969
month following the month in which they are collected.970

       Sec. 1907.261.  (A)(1) A county court may determine that for 971
the efficient operation of the court additional funds are required 972
to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal 973
research services, or to do both. Upon making a determination that 974
additional funds are required for either or both of those 975
purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of fees and 976
costs under section 1907.24 of the Revised Code one additional fee 977
not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action 978
or appeal equivalent to one described in division (A), (Q), or (U) 979
of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall direct the clerk 980
of the court to charge the fee.981

       (2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or 982
before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which 983
they are collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall 984
place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed 985
either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by 986
the board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court, 987
subject to the court making an annual report available to the 988
public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater 989
than the actual cost to the court of computerizing the court, 990
procuring and maintaining computerized legal research services, or 991
both.992

       (3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund 993
described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than 994
sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee 995
described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the 996
court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an 997
appropriation by the board of county commissioners, expend those 998
surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court 999
making an annual report available to the public listing the use of 1000
all such funds, expend those surplus funds, for other appropriate 1001
technological expenses of the court.1002

       (B)(1) A county court may determine that, for the efficient 1003
operation of the court, additional funds are required to 1004
computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that 1005
determination, may include in its schedule of fees and costs under 1006
section 1907.24 of the Revised Code an additional fee not to 1007
exceed ten dollars on the filing of each cause of action or 1008
appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each 1009
certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each 1010
aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a 1011
judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P), 1012
(Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code. Subject 1013
to division (B)(2) of this section, all moneys collected under 1014
division (B)(1) of this section shall be paid on or before the 1015
twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are 1016
collected to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the 1017
funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed, upon an 1018
order of the county court and subject to an appropriation by the 1019
board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the 1020
actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer 1021
systems for the office of the clerk of the county court.1022

       (2) If a county court makes the determination described in 1023
division (B)(1) of this section, the board of county commissioners 1024
of that county may issue one or more general obligation bonds for 1025
the purpose of procuring and maintaining the computer systems for 1026
the office of the clerk of the county court. In addition to the 1027
purposes stated in division (B)(1) of this section for which the 1028
moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys 1029
additionally may be expended to pay debt charges and financing 1030
costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to 1031
division (B)(2) of this section as they become due. General 1032
obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of this 1033
section are Chapter 133. securities.1034

       Sec. 2303.201.  (A)(1) The court of common pleas of any 1035
county may determine that for the efficient operation of the court 1036
additional funds are required to computerize the court, to make 1037
available computerized legal research services, or to do both. 1038
Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for 1039
either or both of those purposes, the court shall authorize and 1040
direct the clerk of the court of common pleas to charge one 1041
additional fee, not to exceed threesix dollars, on the filing of 1042
each cause of action or appeal under divisions (A), (Q), and (U) 1043
of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code.1044

       (2) All fees collected under division (A)(1) of this section 1045
shall be paid to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place 1046
the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed either 1047
upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the 1048
board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court, 1049
subject to the court making an annual report available to the 1050
public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater 1051
than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining 1052
computerization of the court, computerized legal research 1053
services, or both.1054

       (3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund 1055
described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than 1056
sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee 1057
described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the 1058
court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an 1059
appropriation by the board of county commissioners, expend those 1060
surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court 1061
making an annual report available to the public listing the use of 1062
all such funds, expend those surplus funds, for other appropriate 1063
technological expenses of the court.1064

       (B)(1) The court of common pleas of any county may determine 1065
that, for the efficient operation of the court, additional funds 1066
are required to make technological advances in or to computerize 1067
the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas and, upon 1068
that determination, authorize and direct the clerk of the court of 1069
common pleas to charge an additional fee, not to exceed tentwenty1070
dollars, on the filing of each cause of action or appeal, on the 1071
filing, docketing, and endorsing of each certificate of judgment, 1072
or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or 1073
petition to vacate, revive, or modify a judgment under divisions 1074
(A), (P), (Q), (T), and (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code 1075
and not to exceed one dollar each for the services described in 1076
divisions (B), (C), (D), (F), (H), and (L) of section 2303.20 of 1077
the Revised Code. Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, all 1078
moneys collected under division (B)(1) of this section shall be 1079
paid to the county treasurer to be disbursed, upon an order of the 1080
court of common pleas and subject to appropriation by the board of 1081
county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost 1082
to the court of procuring and maintaining technology and computer 1083
systems for the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas.1084

       (2) If the court of common pleas of a county makes the 1085
determination described in division (B)(1) of this section, the 1086
board of county commissioners of that county may issue one or more 1087
general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and 1088
maintaining the technology and computer systems for the office of 1089
the clerk of the court of common pleas. In addition to the 1090
purposes stated in division (B)(1) of this section for which the 1091
moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys 1092
additionally may be expended to pay debt charges on and financing 1093
costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to 1094
division (B)(2) of this section as they become due. General 1095
obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(2) of this 1096
section are Chapter 133. securities.1097

       (C) The court of common pleas shall collect the sum of 1098
twenty-six dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil 1099
action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of 1100
providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate 1101
within the state and to support the office of the state public 1102
defender. This division does not apply to proceedings concerning 1103
annulments, dissolutions of marriage, divorces, legal separation, 1104
spousal support, marital property or separate property 1105
distribution, support, or other domestic relations matters; to a 1106
juvenile division of a court of common pleas; to a probate 1107
division of a court of common pleas, except that the additional 1108
filing fees shall apply to name change, guardianship, adoption, 1109
and decedents' estate proceedings; or to an execution on a 1110
judgment, proceeding in aid of execution, or other post-judgment 1111
proceeding arising out of a civil action. The filing fees required 1112
to be collected under this division shall be in addition to any 1113
other filing fees imposed in the action or proceeding and shall be 1114
collected at the time of the filing of the action or proceeding. 1115
The court shall not waive the payment of the additional filing 1116
fees in a new civil action or proceeding unless the court waives 1117
the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or 1118
proceeding. All such moneys collected during a month except for an 1119
amount equal to up to one per cent of those moneys retained to 1120
cover administrative costs shall be transmitted on or before the 1121
twentieth day of the following month by the clerk of the court to 1122
the treasurer of state in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of 1123
state or by the Ohio legal assistance foundation. The treasurer of 1124
state shall deposit four per cent of the funds collected under 1125
this division to the credit of the civil case filing fee fund 1126
established under section 120.07 of the Revised Code and 1127
ninety-six per cent of the funds collected under this division to 1128
the credit of the legal aid fund established under section 120.52 1129
of the Revised Code.1130

       The court may retain up to one per cent of the moneys it 1131
collects under this division to cover administrative costs, 1132
including the hiring of any additional personnel necessary to 1133
implement this division. If the court fails to transmit to the 1134
treasurer of state the moneys the court collects under this 1135
division in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by 1136
the Ohio legal assistance foundation, the court shall forfeit the 1137
moneys the court retains under this division to cover 1138
administrative costs, including the hiring of any additional 1139
personnel necessary to implement this division, and shall transmit 1140
to the treasurer of state all moneys collected under this 1141
division, including the forfeited amount retained for 1142
administrative costs, for deposit in the legal aid fund.1143

       (D) On and after the thirtieth day after December 9, 1994, 1144
the court of common pleas shall collect the sum of thirty-two 1145
dollars as additional filing fees in each new action or proceeding 1146
for annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage for the purpose 1147
of funding shelters for victims of domestic violence pursuant to 1148
sections 3113.35 to 3113.39 of the Revised Code. The filing fees 1149
required to be collected under this division shall be in addition 1150
to any other filing fees imposed in the action or proceeding and 1151
shall be collected at the time of the filing of the action or 1152
proceeding. The court shall not waive the payment of the 1153
additional filing fees in a new action or proceeding for 1154
annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage unless the court 1155
waives the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or 1156
proceeding. On or before the twentieth day of each month, all 1157
moneys collected during the immediately preceding month pursuant 1158
to this division shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into 1159
the county treasury in the special fund used for deposit of 1160
additional marriage license fees as described in section 3113.34 1161
of the Revised Code. Upon their deposit into the fund, the moneys 1162
shall be retained in the fund and expended only as described in 1163
section 3113.34 of the Revised Code.1164

       (E)(1) The court of common pleas may determine that, for the 1165
efficient operation of the court, additional funds are necessary 1166
to acquire and pay for special projects of the court, including, 1167
but not limited to, the acquisition of additional facilities or 1168
the rehabilitation of existing facilities, the acquisition of 1169
equipment, the hiring and training of staff, community service 1170
programs, mediation or dispute resolution services, the employment 1171
of magistrates, the training and education of judges, acting 1172
judges, and magistrates, and other related services. Upon that 1173
determination, the court by rule may charge a fee, in addition to 1174
all other court costs, on the filing of each criminal cause, civil 1175
action or proceeding, or judgment by confession.1176

       If the court of common pleas offers a special program or 1177
service in cases of a specific type, the court by rule may assess 1178
an additional charge in a case of that type, over and above court 1179
costs, to cover the special program or service. The court shall 1180
adjust the special assessment periodically, but not retroactively, 1181
so that the amount assessed in those cases does not exceed the 1182
actual cost of providing the service or program.1183

       All moneys collected under division (E) of this section shall 1184
be paid to the county treasurer for deposit into either a general 1185
special projects fund or a fund established for a specific special 1186
project. Moneys from a fund of that nature shall be disbursed upon 1187
an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of 1188
county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost 1189
to the court of a project. If a specific fund is terminated 1190
because of the discontinuance of a program or service established 1191
under division (E) of this section, the court may order, subject 1192
to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, that 1193
moneys remaining in the fund be transferred to an account 1194
established under this division for a similar purpose.1195

       (2) As used in division (E) of this section:1196

       (a) "Criminal cause" means a charge alleging the violation of 1197
a statute or ordinance, or subsection of a statute or ordinance, 1198
that requires a separate finding of fact or a separate plea before 1199
disposition and of which the defendant may be found guilty, 1200
whether filed as part of a multiple charge on a single summons, 1201
citation, or complaint or as a separate charge on a single 1202
summons, citation, or complaint. "Criminal cause" does not include 1203
separate violations of the same statute or ordinance, or 1204
subsection of the same statute or ordinance, unless each charge is 1205
filed on a separate summons, citation, or complaint.1206

       (b) "Civil action or proceeding" means any civil litigation 1207
that must be determined by judgment entry.1208

       Sec. 2947.09.  (A) If a person is charged with an offense in 1209
a court of common pleas and either fails to appear in court at the 1210
required time and place to answer the charge or pleads guilty to 1211
or is found guilty of the offense and fails within the time 1212
allowed by the court to pay any fine or costs imposed by the 1213
court, unless the court previously has given written notice to the 1214
person, the court shall send the person a notice by ordinary mail 1215
at the person's last known address stating that there is a balance 1216
due, specifying the amount of the balance due, and directing the 1217
person to contact the court clerk's office within ten days of the 1218
date of the notice. The notice shall include the sentence: 1219
"WARNING: Failure to timely respond to this notice may result in 1220
the blocking of your motor vehicle registration or transfer of 1221
registration!" To avoid a block on the person's motor vehicle 1222
registration or transfer of registration, the person may enter 1223
into a written agreement with the court to pay the balance due in 1224
installments or to perform community service in lieu of payment. 1225
The agreement shall include the sentence: "WARNING: Failure to 1226
comply with the payment schedule or to complete your community 1227
service requirement may result in the blocking of your motor 1228
vehicle registration or transfer of registration!" 1229

       If a person does not enter into an agreement under this 1230
division or if a person fails to comply with an agreement entered 1231
into under this division, the court may enter information relative 1232
to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine 1233
or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar 1234
pursuant to division (B) of this section and send the form to the 1235
registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any 1236
measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any 1237
deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or 1238
transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by 1239
the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the 1240
registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar 1241
adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of 1242
the Revised Code.1243

       The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of 1244
a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under 1245
this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or 1246
costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine 1247
or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the 1248
registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the 1249
payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the 1250
registrar pursuant to division (B) of this section and sending the 1251
form to the registrar.1252

       (B) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to 1253
courts of common pleas forms to be used for a notice to the 1254
registrar of failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the 1255
registrar of payment of fines or costs under division (A) of this 1256
section. The registrar may approve the use of other forms for 1257
these purposes.1258

       The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or 1259
approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar 1260
electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, 1261
the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form 1262
that is not transmitted electronically.1263

       Sec. 4503.39.  With regard to a motor vehicle leased by or in 1264
the name of a person named in a suspension order or who is 1265
precluded from registering or transferring registration of a motor 1266
vehicle because of a failure to pay a fine or court costs, the 1267
registrar of motor vehicles shall adopt procedures as indicated in 1268
division (B) of section 1901.44, division (B) of section 1905.202, 1269
division (B) of section 1907.25, division (D) of section 2935.27, 1270
division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) of section 2947.09,1271
and division (B) of section 4510.22 of the Revised Code. The 1272
procedures shall prescribe the information and methodology 1273
necessary to implement those divisions.1274

       Section 2.  That existing sections 1901.261, 1901.31, 1275
1907.20, 1907.26, 1907.261, 2303.201, and 4503.39 of the Revised 1276
Code are hereby repealed.1277