SB204 Alabama 2021 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act authorizes the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board to license professional bail bondsmen, professional bail companies, professional surety bondsmen, professional surety companies, and recovery agents

This bill would provide further for definitions and the qualifications of members appointed to the board

This bill would authorize the board to issue apprentice licenses to certain qualified applicants, would authorize the board to employ legal counsel, would further prohibit unlicensed practice and provide criminal penalties for violations; and would require the successful completion of certain education before regular licensure

This bill would limit the maximum amount of fees the board, by rule, may establish and charge

This bill would also clarify that application and renewal fees apply to all licensees of the board

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to the Alabama Bail Bond Regulatory Act; to amend Sections 15-13-201, 15-13-202, 15-13-203, 15-13-206, 15-13-207, 15-13-209, 15-13-210, 15-13-211, 15-13-214, and 15-13-217, as added to the Code of Alabama 1975 by Act 2019-409, 2019 Regular Session, to provide further for definitions; to provide further for the qualifications of members appointed to the board; to authorize the board to issue apprentice licenses to certain qualified applicants; to authorize the board to employ legal counsel; to further prohibit unlicensed practice and provide criminal penalties for violations; to require an applicant to successfully complete certain education before licensure; to limit the maximum amount of fees the board, by rule, may establish and charge; and to clarify that application and renewal fees apply to professional bail bondsmen, professional bail companies, professional surety bondsmen, professional surety companies, and recovery agents; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621, of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.