Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-514.4v2

with court cost compliance liaisons – Recovery on outstanding cost-

related warrants – Payment in lieu of court appearance.

A. 1. Effective November 1, 2023, there is hereby established

a court cost compliance program. The purpose of the program shall

be to assist county sheriffs and the courts of this state with the

collection of fines, costs, fees, and assessments associated with

any case in which a warrant has been issued and the case has been

referred to the court cost compliance program pursuant to Section

983 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

2. County sheriffs of any county in this state may contract

with a statewide association of county sheriffs to administer

contracts with third parties who shall be known as court cost

compliance liaisons. The court cost compliance liaison may assist

with attempting to locate and notify persons of their outstanding

misdemeanor or cost-related warrants and recover and maintain

accounts relating to past due fines, fees, costs, and assessments.

County sheriffs contracting with a statewide association of county

sheriffs for the administration of third-party contracts may assign

their rights and duties regarding these contracts to the

association.

B. A person may make payment directly to the court, as allowed

by law, or the court cost compliance liaison, as allowed, shall be

authorized to accept payment on misdemeanor or cost-related warrants

on all cases referred pursuant to Section 983 of Title 22 of the

Oklahoma Statutes by various means including but not limited to

payment by phone, mail, or Internet, and in any payment form

including but not limited to personal, cashier’s, traveler’s,

certified, or guaranteed bank check, postal or commercial money

order, nationally recognized credit or a debit card, or other

generally accepted payment form. Any payment collected and received

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers Page 230

by the court cost compliance liaison shall be paid to the court

clerk of the court that issued the warrant within fifteen (15) days

after receipt of the payment and proof of funds. Any payment

collected and received by the court, where the court has referred

the case to a court cost compliance liaison, shall be reported to

the court cost compliance liaison within four (4) days of receipt of

the payment. Any payment returned due to insufficient funds shall

have all insufficient fund charges incurred added to the outstanding

balance of the defendant. If a credit card payment taken by a court

cost compliance liaison is determined to be a fraudulent use of the

credit card by the payor and the payment is reversed by the credit

card company or payor’s bank, the court clerk shall reverse the

transaction upon notification, return the payment to the court cost

compliance liaison, and the court cost compliance liaison shall

continue the collection process until paid. The court clerk shall

add any additional fees for the reversal of the transaction plus the

administration fees to the outstanding balance of the defendant.

Court cost compliance liaisons shall inform individuals of their

right to a cost hearing as provided in Section 983 of Title 22 of

the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. As provided for by this section, a person may pay in lieu of

appearance before the court and such payment accepted by the court

shall constitute a finding of guilt as though a plea of nolo

contendere had been entered by the defendant as allowed by law and

shall function as a written, dated, and signed plea form acceptable

to the court. Such payment shall serve as a written waiver of a

jury trial.

D. The court shall release or recall the outstanding

misdemeanor or cost-related warrant upon receipt of all sums due

pursuant to the warrant including the misdemeanor or cost-related

warrant, scheduled fine or sum due, all associated fees, costs and

statutory penalty assessments, and the administrative cost pursuant
to the court. Such payment shall serve as a written waiver of a

jury trial.

D. The court shall release or recall the outstanding

misdemeanor or cost-related warrant upon receipt of all sums due

pursuant to the warrant including the misdemeanor or cost-related

warrant, scheduled fine or sum due, all associated fees, costs and

statutory penalty assessments, and the administrative cost pursuant

to Section 514.5 of this title, or with a mutually agreeable monthly

payment plan and a down payment set at the discretion of the court

at an amount no less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or by order

of the court. A single down payment shall be sufficient to recall

all cost-related warrants against a defendant pending in a single

jurisdiction.

E. The provisions of any contract entered into by a county

sheriff shall be administered by a statewide association of county

sheriffs in Oklahoma.

F. The provisions of this section and Section 514.5 of this

title shall be applicable to:

1. Any misdemeanor or cost-related warrant issued pursuant to

Section 983 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes or relating to any

proceeding pursuant to the State and Municipal Traffic, Water

Safety, and Wildlife Bail Bond Procedure Act;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers Page 231

2. Any misdemeanor or cost-related warrant issued that allows a

defendant to resolve the matter by payment in lieu of a personal

appearance in court; and

3. Any cost-related warrant issued in a criminal case.