SB384 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

J.T. WaggonerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Bail bonds, regulation of further provided for, Professional Bail Bonding Board created, licensure of bondsmen and recovery agents, continuing education, Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act

Summary

The bill creates a new Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act that establishes a state board to license and regulate professional bondsmen and recovery agents, with required training, ongoing education, and penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board to register and license professional bondsmen, professional surety bondsmen, and recovery agents, and to set licensure requirements. Requires licensure for these individuals (with professional surety bondsmen licensed by the Department of Insurance) and mandates an initial exam plus ongoing continuing education. Grants the board authority to suspend or revoke licenses, impose civil penalties for violations or false statements, and require license display; establishes a state fund to operate the board and sets associated fees. Includes provisions for ethics, record-keeping, identification cards, and a new 12-hour initial course for new licensees starting in 2016, plus annual continuing education requirements.

Who It Affects

• Professional bondsmen and recovery agents: must register with the new board, obtain licensure, pass required examinations, and complete annual continuing education; face penalties for false statements and other violations.
• Bail bond companies and professional surety/bail entities: responsible for ensuring their staff complies with board licensing rules, education requirements, fee payments, and other regulatory obligations.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act and the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board to oversee licensing and regulation.
• Defines key terms: professional bondsman, professional surety bondsman, and recovery agent; requires licensure for bondsmen and recovery agents and separate licensing for professional surety bondsmen through the Department of Insurance.
• Requires licensure procedures, background information, examinations, and continuing education; prohibits acting as a bondsman or recovery agent without a license; establishes confidentiality for license applications.
• Establishes the Alabama Bail Bond Board Fund to support board operations; sets fee structures for examinations, initial certificates, and annual continuing education certificates.
• Board duties include rulemaking, ethics standards, staff hiring, and legal support from the Attorney General; creates identification cards and license display requirements; outlines grounds for suspension or revocation.
• Imposes penalties for false statements to the board (civil penalty up to $1,000) and for license violations; licenses have specified validity and display requirements.
• Initial 12-hour course and examination for new licensees starting January 1, 2016; eight hours of annual continuing education for license renewal; specifies approved providers and certificate issuance.
• Licenses and certificates must be displayed or carried; the bill is effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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