SPONSOR: Phelps
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 21 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative by a vote of 11 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 3111.
Currently, bail bondsman are regulated by the Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI). This bill puts bail bondsman under the regulatory authority of the Board of Private Investigators and Private Fire Investigator Examiners within the Division of Professional Registration.
The Board's name will be changed to the "Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents" (Board). The bill adds three members to the Board who have been actively engaged in the general bail bond business or surety recovery for the previous five years.
This bill repeals the maximum amount the Board can charge for fees.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the industry currently does not have clear oversight. This increases accountability and would create a higher standard across the state. This also increases public safety.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Phelps and Jeremy Nicholas, Missouri Alliance of Professional Bail Bond Agents.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: