SB384 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act requiring professional bondsmen and recovery agents to register with and obtain licenses from the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board instead of only obtaining county-level judicial approval.

• Establishes a five-member board appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate Pro Tem, with members requiring five years of bail bonding industry experience; board members receive $500 per month compensation.

• Requires new bondsmen and recovery agents commencing business after January 1, 2016, to complete a 12-hour instructional course and pass an examination (cost not to exceed $500); exempts those already in business before that date.

• Mandates annual continuing education of 8 hours (cost not to exceed $75 per hour) for license renewal by November 1 each year, with examination and renewal fees of $125 and $50 respectively.

• Establishes grounds for license suspension and revocation including violations of the act, fraud, criminal convictions, and disqualifying conduct; makes unlicensed operation a Class A misdemeanor and false statements to the board punishable by civil penalty up to $1,000.