This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning bail bonds, introducing significant changes aimed at enhancing regulation and ensuring stricter conditions for pretrial release. It defines "virtual office" and prohibits such offices for bail bond agents, while also changing "classroom instruction" to "in-person classroom instruction" and reducing the required duration of basic certification courses from 120 hours to 80 hours. The bill prohibits bail bond agents from soliciting certain individuals, such as arrestees and their immediate family members, unless specific conditions are met. Additionally, it mandates that any monetary component of pretrial release must be met through cash or checks, and requires sureties to justify their suretyship by attaching cash or checks to the bond instead of executing an affidavit.

Further amendments include the stipulation that sheriffs must remit money or bonds received to the clerk pending court action, and it clarifies the conditions under which a bail bond may be forfeited, now requiring at least 72 hours' notice to the surety before forfeiture. The bill also introduces a minimum bond amount of $10,000 for defendants charged with dangerous crimes and expands the definition of "dangerous crime" to include additional offenses. It emphasizes a presumption in favor of release on nonmonetary conditions for most individuals while establishing stricter requirements for pretrial release services to investigate defendants' backgrounds. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the bail bond process, clarify obligations, and enhance public safety.

Statutes affected:
S 600 Filed: 903.011, 903.046, 903.0471, 903.05, 903.08, 903.09, 903.101, 903.16, 903.17, 903.21, 903.26, 903.27, 903.28, 903.29, 903.36, 648.45