This bill amends various sections of Florida's bail bond laws, focusing on pretrial release requirements and bail posting processes. It mandates that any monetary component of pretrial release must be satisfied using specific forms of payment, such as United States currency, postal money orders, or cashier's checks. The bill also revises the criteria for courts to consider when determining bail, placing greater emphasis on a defendant's past conduct and the nature of the current offense. Additionally, it requires that upon revocation of pretrial release, any previously posted bond must be discharged without further court order. Other changes include the repeal of certain provisions regarding surety qualifications, now only requiring residency in the state, and clarifications on the responsibilities of clerks and sheriffs in managing bail-related funds.

Further amendments address bail bond forfeiture, including a requirement for at least 72 hours' notice to sureties before a bond can be forfeited and the introduction of a certification process for notice. The bill specifies conditions under which a bond may not be forfeited, such as the timely filing of an indictment and proper notice to the surety. It also outlines the responsibilities of the court and clerk during forfeiture events and establishes a tiered remission structure for forfeitures based on the defendant's actions. Additionally, the bill modifies bond cancellation requirements and introduces a new member to public safety coordinating councils—a bail bond agent—while changing the terminology from "chairperson" to "chair." The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 456 Filed: 903.011, 903.045, 903.046, 903.0471, 903.05, 903.08, 903.09, 903.101, 903.16, 903.17, 903.21, 903.26, 903.27, 903.28, 924.065, 951.26