Ohio § 1901.261

§ 1901.261.

(A)(1) A municipal court may determine that for the efficient operation of the court additional

funds are required to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal

research services, or to do both.  Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for either or both

of those purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code one additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action

or appeal equivalent to one described in division (A) , (Q) , or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee. (2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day

of the month following the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer

if the court is a county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the

court is not a county-operated municipal court.  The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed

upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners

if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority

of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court,

or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available

to the public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the

actual cost to the court of computerizing the court, procuring and maintaining computerized

legal research services, or both. (3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund described in division (A)(2) of

this section are more than sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional

fee described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the court may declare

a surplus in the fund and, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners

if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority

of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court,

expend those surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making

an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend

those surplus funds, for other appropriate technological expenses of the court. (B)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, the clerk of a municipal

court may determine that, for the efficient operation of the office of the clerk of

the municipal court, additional funds are required to computerize the office of the

clerk of the court and, upon that determination, may authorize and direct that a computerization

fee not to exceed twenty dollars be charged on the filing of each cause of action

or appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each certificate of judgment,

or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive,

or modify a judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A) , (P) , (Q) , (T) , or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code . (b) In a court in which the clerk of the municipal court is appointed, the municipal

court may make the determination described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section and,

upon that determination, may include such a computerization fee in its schedule of

fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code . (2) Subject to division (B)(3) of this section, all moneys collected under division (B)(1)(a)

of this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day of the month following

the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer if the court is a county-operated

municipal court or to the city treasurer if the court is not a county-operated municipal

court.  The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed,

and subject to an appropriation made by the board of county commissioners if the court

is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal

corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, in an amount no

greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems

for the office of the clerk of the municipal court.  In a court in which the clerk of the municipal court is elected, the clerk may disburse

the funds subject to an appropriation by the commissioners.  In a court in which the clerk of the municipal court is appointed, the court may

issue an order to disburse the funds subject to an appropriation by the commissioners. (3) If a municipal court or the clerk of a municipal court makes the determination described

in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, the board of county commissioners of the county

if the court is a county-operated municipal court or the legislative authority of

the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, may

issue one or more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and maintaining

the computer systems for the office of the clerk of the municipal court.  In addition to the purposes stated in division (B)(1)(a) of this section for which

the moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally

may be expended to pay debt charges and financing costs related to any general obligation

bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section as they become due.  General obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section are

Chapter 133. securities.