The bill SB213 amends the Alabama Bail Reform Act of 1993, introducing significant changes to the procedures and requirements surrounding bail. Key insertions include the requirement for a "Bondsman's or Recovery License Number" on bondsman's return documents, and the stipulation that sheriffs and police chiefs can accept various forms of bail, including property and professional surety bail. The bill also clarifies definitions for cash and property bail, allows sureties to sign for forfeitures with the court clerk, and increases the time frame for defendants and sureties to respond to conditional forfeiture notices from 28 days to 30 days. Additionally, it mandates that half of the funds collected from forfeitures be remitted to the county where the defendant was charged, and outlines the process for serving conditional forfeiture notices.

Moreover, the bill enhances regulatory measures for professional bail companies, requiring them to submit documentation confirming compliance with state regulations and raising the financial requirements for corporate surety bonds in larger counties. It introduces new criminal penalties for unauthorized surety activities and false information related to bail bonds, while also establishing that professional bondsmen must be licensed for at least three years before owning a bail company. The bill deletes certain existing legal language to improve accountability and oversight within the bail system, and it is set to take effect three months after being approved by the Governor.

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