HB 1237 -- Bail Bond and Surety Recovery Agents

Sponsor:  Walker

This bill makes changes to the laws regarding bail bond and
surety recovery agents and will be known as T. J.'s Law.  The
bill:

(1)  Requires any person wishing to practice as a bail bond or
surety recovery agent in the state to be licensed with the
Department of Insurance;

(2)  Prohibits licensed bail bond agents from issuing appearance
bonds without a valid appointment from a general bail bond agent;

(3)  Requires bail bond agents to be employed by no more than one
general bail bond agent at a time;

(4)  Requires any person wishing to become a general bail bond
agent to be licensed as a bail bond agent for at least four
years;

(5)  Requires all applicants for licensure as bail bond agents to
provide evidence that they are Missouri residents, have a high
school diploma or its equivalent, and are at least 21 years of
age;

(6)  Requires licensees to maintain records and file a power of
attorney form with the department;

(7)  Allows the department to establish reciprocal agreements
with other states for the licensing of bail bond and surety
recovery agents;

(8)  Authorizes the department to file complaints with the
Administrative Hearing Commission, suspend or revoke licenses, or
enter into agreements for monetary or other penalties in lieu of
filing complaints against surety recovery agents;

(9)  Requires applicants for licensure as a surety recovery agent
to be United States citizens, have a high school diploma or its
equivalent, be at least 21 years old, and complete 40 hours of
approved training;

(10)  Allows surety recovery agents to detain subjects in a
lawful manner and to execute apprehension of a subject if the
surety agent has probable grounds to believe that the terms of
the surety agreement have been breeched.  Surety agents may not
detain a subject for more than 72 hours prior to delivery to the
authorized jurisdiction; and

(11)  Contains provisions regarding the failure of appearance by
defendants and the liability thereby imposed on bail bond agents.

The bill contains penalty provisions.

The bill will become effective on January 1, 2005.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:15 am