HB 1235

An Act to amend and reenact § 17.1-222.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to clerks of circuit court; fees; restitution; online payment systems; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 17.1-222.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 17.1-222.1. Collection of fees, etc., by court clerks in lieu of money.
A. The clerks of the several courts of the Commonwealth may, in lieu of money, collect or secure all fees, and fines and penalties collected for offenses committed against the Commonwealth or against any county, city or town, and for payment of spousal or child support, by any means provided in § 2.2-614.1. Such clerks shall not by virtue of acceptance of any such payment be held to be guarantors of the payment thereof, but they shall exercise ordinary care in such acceptance.
B. If a clerk's office allows payment to occur via an already established online payment system for collection of court fines and fees or costs, it shall offer such payment method for all restitution payments. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to require a clerk's office to create an online payment system if one does not currently exist.
2. That the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia shall convene a work group with all relevant stakeholders, to study the accessibility and modernization of court payment systems for any and all transactions conducted by and for the general district and circuit courts. The work group shall submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2026.