SB337 Summary

• Removes the requirement that bail for initial custody arrests in misdemeanor cases, violations, or traffic offenses be set as cash bail only, allowing other bail types.

• Prohibits charging sureties for bondsman's process forms or certified copies of bonds, and requires bondsman's license numbers be listed on process forms.

• Increases time frames for conditional forfeiture proceedings from 28 days to 180 days for filing written responses and from 90 days to 120 days before conducting forfeiture hearings.

• Eliminates the requirement that conditional forfeiture judgments be made absolute for the entire bond sum, allowing courts to set aside forfeitures in partial amounts based on circumstances.

• Increases corporate surety bond and escrow agreement requirements from $25,000 to $50,000 for new bonds in counties with populations of 200,000 or more, and creates new criminal penalties including Class A misdemeanor for unauthorized bail bond services and false information on bail bond forms.