The bill SB213 amends the Alabama Bail Reform Act of 1993, introducing significant changes to bail procedures and definitions. Key insertions include provisions allowing sheriffs or jailers to accept filing fees at the time of posting bail, clarifications on cash and property bail definitions, and stipulations that sureties will not incur charges for bondsman's processes or certified copies of bonds. The bill also modifies the time frames for responding to conditional forfeiture notices, extending the response period from 28 to 30 days and the court's hearing timeline from 90 to 120 days. Additionally, it specifies that sureties will be discharged from liability if a conditional forfeiture notice is not issued within 90 days, and it emphasizes the court's authority to consider circumstances such as hospitalization when determining the validity of a conditional forfeiture.

Further amendments focus on the regulation of professional bail companies, requiring them to submit documentation confirming compliance with licensing and financial standards. The bill raises the financial requirements for corporate surety bonds in larger counties and mandates annual authorization from the presiding circuit judge for professional bail companies to execute bonds. New provisions also establish penalties for unauthorized actions related to bail bonds and ensure that all individuals with a financial interest in a bail company meet specific qualifications. Overall, SB213 aims to streamline bail processes, enhance regulatory oversight, and ensure accountability within the bail industry in Alabama.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164, 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164
Engrossed: 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164, 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164
Enrolled: 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164, 15-13-107, 15-13-111, 15-13-114, 15-13-118, 15-13-125, 15-13-128, 15-13-131, 15-13-132, 15-13-134, 15-13-136, 15-13-137, 15-13-138, 15-13-139, 15-13-140, 15-13-141, 15-13-145, 15-13-159, 15-13-160, 15-13-164