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I know alot of agents in Missouri arent aware of this new law so if your not here it is. It started January 1st.
Summary of the House Committee Version of the Bill
HCS SCS SB 1027 & 896 -- BAIL BOND AND SURETY RECOVERY AGENTS
SPONSOR: Cauthorn (Behnen)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 14 to 0.
This substitute changes the laws regarding bail bond agents and
establishes a licensing procedure for surety recovery agents,
generally known as bounty hunters. The substitute specifies the
requirements for obtaining a license to be a bail bond agent or
surety recovery agent, establishes fees to cover the
administration of the licensing, and grants authority to the
Director of the Department of Insurance to regulate those agents.
The substitute:
(1) Prohibits anyone from engaging in the bail bond business
without being licensed by the department. Violation is a class A
misdemeanor, and any subsequent offense is a class D felony;
(2) Requires bail bond agents and surety recovery agents to
receive at least 24 hours of basic training and eight hours of
biennial continuing education, with a curriculum approved by the
department. The costs of the training are to be paid by the
applicant, but in no case will the cost be more than $200 for the
basic training and $150 for the biennial continuing education.
Persons with at least two years of peace officer experience are
exempt from the required training as a surety recovery agent;
(3) Requires a $150 licensing fee, with the licenses valid for
two years;
(4) Allows the department to demand additional assignment of
assets from a bail bond agent if circumstances warrant, up to
$25,000. Current law allows up to $10,000;
(5) Requires the collateral demanded by bail bond agents to be
reasonable in relation to the amount of the bond;
(6) Allows the department to establish reciprocal agreements
with other states which have similar qualifications and training
requirements for bail bond industry licensees;
(7) Prohibits the granting of a bail bond agent license or
surety recovery agent license to anyone who, within the last 15
years, has been convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral
turpitude, child molestation, or any crime involving the use of a
weapon;
(8) Grants the department authority to issue cease and desist
orders to any person violating any of the provisions of the
substitute;
(9) Grants the department subpoena power to compel testimony
regarding possible violations;
(10) Authorizes the department to file complaints with the
Administrative Hearing Commission against licensees; and
(11) Allows bail bond agents to detain subjects in a lawful
manner and enter upon public or private property in order to
execute apprehension of a subject, if the agent has probable
grounds to believe the subject breached the terms of the surety
agreement. Agents may not detain subjects for more than 72
hours.
FISCAL NOTE: No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2005, FY
2006, and FY 2007. Estimated Income on Other State Funds of
$22,548 in FY 2005, $39,939 in FY 2006, and $36,855 in FY 2007.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the bill tightens up the law
pertaining to bail bond agents and bounty hunters. It is
important that persons operating in this industry be properly
trained and regulated, which the bill provides.
Testifying for the bill were Senator Cauthorn; Missouri
Professional Bail Bond Association; Department of Insurance; and
Judicial Conference of Missouri.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst
Copyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives
The bad thing is there is only two companies licensd to teach the classes for trainning and of course they are in the middle of nowhere.
_________________
After all is said and done, more is said than done.
-X-
St. Louis, MO
FRN#2
Member of The C.B.C
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