On December 20th, Ohio Governor Kasich signed HB 247, which is designed to assist courts in the administration of costs and fines that are owed. According to an Ohio Supreme Court news release, what the bill actually does is:
"... allow clerks of court to “write off” uncollectible debt after five years; allow trial courts to suspend the imposition or payment of court costs after the court has imposed a sentence (in response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling State v. Clevenger); and provide that court costs be assessed on each case as defined by the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio."
With regard to criminal cases under ORC 2947.23, the courts have new powers, as follows:
"(C) The court retains jurisdiction to waive, suspend, or modify the payment of the costs of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised Code, at the time of sentencing or at any time thereafter."
