HB 1298 Summary

• Removes requirement that circuit court clerks attend court sessions in person.

• Establishes clerk as official custodian of court records and requires provision of public records copies to requesters under public records law.

• Allows training hours completed after election/selection but before taking office to count toward the 15-hour first-year and 40-hour three-year training requirements for circuit court clerks.

• Requires court costs and fees to fund initial certified mail mailings to parties; subsequent certified mail requests must be paid by the requesting person.

• Authorizes clerks to retain up to $3 as an administrative fee when collecting amounts exceeding required collections, depositing retained fees into the clerk's record perpetuation fund (excludes child support funds).