SB213 is a bill that proposes amendments to the Alabama Bail Reform Act of 1993, focusing on the bail system and the roles of sureties and bail bondsmen. The bill clarifies the definitions of cash and property bail, outlines the procedures for sureties to arrest and deliver defendants to jail without incurring court costs, and requires the license number of bondsmen or recovery agents on relevant forms. It extends the jurisdiction of the ordering court over forfeiture actions, allows bondsmen to file legal documents related to defendants on bond, and modifies conditions for setting aside forfeiture and eligibility for judicial public bail. The bill also increases the required amount for new corporate surety bonds and escrow agreements in larger counties and sets criminal penalties for certain unlawful behaviors. Technical revisions are made to update the code language, and the bill may necessitate new or increased local expenditures.

Additionally, SB213 mandates that professional surety companies provide detailed documentation to the circuit court clerk, including licenses, affidavits, and financial interest disclosures. The bill specifies that professional bail companies must obtain annual authorization to act as surety on bail and submit a corporate surety bond or escrow agreement, with the amount depending on the county's population. The bill also prohibits individuals from owning a professional bail company without three years of experience as a licensed professional bondsman and establishes penalties for providing false information or exchanging sexual services for bail bond services. The bill's provisions include the potential impact on local funds and a severability clause, with the effective date set for the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor or its otherwise becoming law.

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