HB 1997 -- Bail Bond Agents

Sponsor:  Behnen

This bill changes the laws regarding the licensure of bail bond
agents.  The bill:

(1)  Requires the Department of Insurance to notify any bail bond
agent who is listed as having a forfeited bond;

(2)  Requires all licenses issued to bail bond agents to include
a photograph of the licensee;

(3)  Requires all bail bond agents to provide the department with
the name, address, and telephone number of each employer which
they work for or contract with;

(4)  Requires any newly appointed surety bail bond agent to file
an affidavit with the department stating that all forfeitures or
judgments on previously written bonds have been satisfied;

(5)  Requires all applicants for licensure to be fingerprinted
and have a criminal background check;

(6)  Authorizes the department to have a cause of action brought
against a licensee who has been found guilty of a dangerous
felony or has filed bankruptcy as an owner of a bail bond
business;

(7)  Allows bail bond agents to write bonds in municipal or
circuit courts if the general bail bond agent who employs them is
qualified to write bonds in these courts;

(8)  Allows bail bonds agents to be released from a bond if the
agent can prove the defendant is incarcerated in another
jurisdiction or that it is physically impossible for the
defendant to appear through no fault of the bail bond agent; and

(9)  Requires any bail bond agent arrested for a felony to notify
the department of the arrest within 10 days.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:45 am