SB349 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Bail bonds, provisions governing professional bail agents, soliciting bail agents, and bail enforcement agents revised, procedures for forfeiture of bail revised, licensure of professioal bail companies, required, Secs. 15-13-101, 15-13-117, 15-13-129, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-141, 15-13-159, 15-13-160 am'd.

Summary

SB349 updates Alabama bail-bond laws by restructuring licensing and oversight of professional bail entities, adding reporting requirements for bail enforcement, changing bail-forfeiture procedures, and imposing new financial and qualification requirements on professional bail companies and sureties.

What This Bill Does

The bill revises definitions and rules for professional bail agents, soliciting bail agents, bail enforcement agents, and professional bondsmen. It requires bail enforcement agencies to report to the county sheriff when locating fugitives, and it alters forfeiture timelines and procedures. It also introduces licensing and financial deposit requirements for professional bail companies and professional surety companies, including cash deposits with the Commissioner of Insurance and annual filings, while establishing fee caps for sureties.

Who It Affects

• Bail industry participants (professional bail companies, professional bondsmen, professional surety companies, and bail enforcement agencies) who would face new licensing, reporting duties, financial deposit requirements, and fee restrictions.
• Courts, clerks, sheriffs, and county governments that administer forfeiture processes, notifications, revenue distribution, and enforcement actions related to bail bonds.

Key Provisions

• Definitions updated to clarify terms for appearance bonds, bail enforcement agents, professional bail companies, professional bondsmen, and professional surety companies.
• Bail enforcement agencies must report to the sheriff of the county where they are locating a fugitive, establishing a new reporting duty.
• Forfeiture procedures are revised with new timeframes and options to set aside or proceed to final forfeiture, including illness, confinement, death, or active military duty as grounds to suspend or continue proceedings; final judgments can lead to revocation actions against sureties.
• Professional bail companies and sureties face licensing and financial requirements, including mandatory licenses by the Commissioner of Insurance and cash deposits with the Insurance Commissioner (initially $25,000, increasing to $100,000 after the act's effective date), along with annual certification and qualification requirements for agents and principals.
• Surety compensation is capped (10% to 15% depending on bond size), with violations constituting a Class B misdemeanor.
• Clerks, sheriffs, and the Insurance Department gain authority to revoke or suspend surety licenses, initiate clerk’s revocation procedures, and manage the flow of forfeited funds.

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

Subjects

Bail Bonds