(A) If collateral security or other indemnity is accepted on a bond, the surety bail bond agent, managing general agent, or surety shall make, upon demand, a written request to the court for a discharge of the bond to be delivered to the surety or the surety's agent.

If the obligation of the surety on the bond is released in writing by the court and a discharge is provided to the surety or the surety's agent, the collateral security or other indemnity, except a promissory note or an indemnity agreement, shall be returned, within twenty-one days after the discharge is provided, to the person that gave the collateral security or other indemnity, unless another disposition is provided for by legal assignment of the right to receive the collateral to another person. If, despite diligent inquiry by the surety or the surety's agent to determine that the bond has been discharged, the court fails to provide a written discharge within thirty days after the written request was made to the court, the bond shall be considered canceled by operation of law, and the collateral security or other indemnity, except a promissory note or an indemnity agreement, shall be returned, within twenty-one days after the written request for discharge was made to the court, to the person that gave the collateral security or other indemnity.

(B) No fee or other charge, other than those authorized by sections 3905.83 to 3905.95 of the Revised Code or by rule of the superintendent of insurance, shall be deducted from the collateral due. However, allowable expenses incurred in the apprehension of a defendant because of a forfeiture of bond or judgment may be deducted if those expenses are accounted for.

(C)

(1) No person shall fail to return collateral security in accordance with this section.

(2) A violation of division (C)(1) of this section shall be punishable as follows:

(a) If the collateral is of a value of less than five hundred dollars, a violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree;

(b) If the collateral is of a value of at least five hundred dollars but less than five thousand dollars, a violation is a felony of the fifth degree;

(c) If the collateral is of a value of at least five thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars, a violation is a felony of the fourth degree;

(d) If the collateral is of a value of ten thousand dollars or more, a violation is a felony of the third degree.

Effective Date: 10-09-2001 .