Public Safety and Security Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-575
AN ACT CREATING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE REGULATION OF
PROFESSIONAL BONDSMEN, BAIL ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND SURETY
Title: BAIL BOND AGENTS.
Vote Date: 3/18/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 2/11/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Public Safety and Security Committee
Co-Sponsors: Sen. Catherine A. Osten, 19th Dist.
Rep. Brian T. Smith, 48th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
In the state of Connecticut, bail bond companies and their agents operate with great
discretion when it comes to arresting those that violate bail bond agreements. Despite
insurers requiring certain measures and limits regarding the actions of bail bond agents when
executing arrests, such agents often do not meet such requirements. Further, bail bond
agents may enact what otherwise would constitute a violation against CT residents if
committed by police. Recognizing this need to reform the current bail bond system, the intent
of this bill in creating a task force to study the regulation of bail bond companies is to find
areas to improve and the means of doing it.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None Expressed
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Catherine A. Osten, State Senator of The Connecticut General Assembly
Sen. Catherine Osten supports this bill. Sen. Catherine Osten elaborates a need for
regulating bail bond agents in her testimony through incident involving a constituent and such
agents. In this instance, Sen. Catherine Osten believes the agents entered her constituent's
residence illegally and operated in the field without a means to be held accountable under
current law. Sen. Catherine Osten believes the changes implemented in this bill will improve
oversight of bail bond agents through greater transparency and communication between the
various licensing agencies that oversee bail bond agents in CT.
Kelly McConney Moore, Interim Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
of Connecticut
The ACLU of CT supports this bill as they see a legitimate need to hold bail bond companies
accountable to state standards. The ACLU of CT claims that the bail bond industry
throughout the United States remain largely unregulated and that bail bond companies often
fail to require real standards of accountability. While the ACLU believes that making
information about bail bond companies accessible is necessary, it is their expressed opinion
that it is not enough to regulate said businesses.
Jeffrey J. Clayton, Executive Director, American Bail Coalition
The American Bail Coalition (ABS) supports this bill, at least, conceptually. It is the opinion of
the ABS that more work beyond this bill is needed to create an efficient solution in regulating
bail bond companies.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None Expressed
Reported by: John Gerke, Intern Date: 3/29/2021
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