House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise and enhance the laws governing bail, particularly focusing on surety bail bond practices. Key provisions include the establishment of a two-year statute of limitations for actions related to surety appearance bonds and the requirement for surety bail bond insurance producers to be notified of any changes in a defendant's court dates, allowing their participation in related court actions. The bill also introduces new training requirements for judges regarding the statutory framework of surety bonds and grants surety bail bond producers the authority to arrest and detain principals without a court-issued warrant. Additionally, it ensures that inmate communication with attorneys and bail bond agents is free of charge and outlines guidelines for using teletypes to facilitate communication between jails and bail bond agents.

Further amendments clarify the responsibilities of judges and detention centers in bail processes, including the exoneration of bonds and notification of surety bail bond agents. The bill prohibits jails from charging fees related to bail bond processing and mandates that courts issue a single aggregate bond for multiple charges, ensuring equal treatment of cash and surety bonds. It also establishes procedures for adjusting bail amounts and outlines notification requirements for bail forfeiture. New provisions define "pretrial services agency" and clarify its responsibilities, while also addressing the handling of out-of-jurisdiction warrants and ensuring automatic discharge of existing bonds when a defendant is released on their own recognizance for new charges. Overall, the bill aims to enhance fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the bail system in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(1): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(2): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(3): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(4): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(5): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(6): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1(7): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_1: 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(1): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(10): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(11): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(12): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(13): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(14): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(15): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(2): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(3): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(4): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(5): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(6): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(7): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(8): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2(9): 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511
HB0852_2: 3-1-1502, 3-10-302, 7-32-2255, 46-6-508, 46-9-105, 46-9-301, 46-9-311, 46-9-502, 46-9-503, 46-9-505, 46-9-510, 46-9-511