HB356 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Professional Bondsman, certification and examination of required, continuing education required, fees, disbursement of fees, suspension

Summary

HB356 would require professional bondsmen to complete a certification and ongoing education program, with fee limits and enforcement measures before they can operate as bail bond agents.

What This Bill Does

It requires a 12-hour introductory course and a pass of an exam before a bondsman can solicit or execute bonds, followed by eight hours of continuing education each year. It sets maximum costs for the initial course/exam and yearly continuing education, and directs how those fees are distributed. It also allows suspension of a bondsman's license for noncompliance and requires annual CE certificates to be filed with the appropriate officials; it defines who counts as a professional bondsman and when the act becomes effective.

Who It Affects

• Professional bondsmen (and their employers) must complete the course, pass the exam, do annual continuing education, and may be suspended for noncompliance.
• Bail bond companies and their employees who solicit or execute appearance bonds must meet the certification and education requirements.
• Judicial and law enforcement officials who issue bail bonds (courts, clerks, magistrate judges, sheriffs, and police chiefs or their designees) must handle CE certifications and enforce suspensions.
• State and local associations (the bail bond association, the Association of Circuit Judges, and the Alabama Sheriff's Association) are involved in exam/education administration and receive fee distributions; Judicial Administrative Fund and circuit clerk's funds receive portions of those fees.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory 12-hour introductory course and exam for professional bondsmen before they may solicit or execute appearance bonds, with the course/exam developed by a statewide bail bond association and approved by the Association of Circuit Judges.
• Annual eight-hour continuing education requirement for professional bondsmen, with certificates issued upon completion and filed with local bail bond issuers.
• Noncompliance leads to suspension from acting as a professional bondsman until requirements are satisfied.
• Fee limits: up to $500 for the initial course and test; up to $500 per year for the continuing education.
• Fee distribution: 85% to the administering association; 5% to the local Judicial Administrative Fund; 5% to the circuit clerk's fund; 5% to the Alabama Sheriff's Association.
• Definition of professional bondsman and the scope of who is affected, including agents employed by professional surety or bail companies.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses