Insurance and Real Estate Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6393
AN ACT CONCERNING THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT'S
Title: RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SURETY BAIL BOND AGENTS.
Vote Date: 3/22/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
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:
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
The bill will automatically cancel surety bail bond agent's license if the agent does not pay the
annual fee, this has been an issue claimed by the Insurance Department as they have limited
recourse for the recollection of the fee. The bill also authorizes the commissioner to adopt
continuing education requirements for surety bail bond agents because many of the problems
that occur are as a result of misinformation. Lastly, the bill reschedules the annual transfer to
the General Fund from the examination account, this was changed so that they can access
the fund longer than the original six months.
Proposed Substitute Language
In line 16 the fee date what changed from 10 days to 30 days due to the concern brought up
from Jeffery Clayton's testimony. Mr. Clayton was concerned that 10 days was too short of a
time and requested it be changed to 30 days. Therefore, the bail bond agent must provide the
annual fee within 30 days of the expiration.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Andrew Mais, Commissioner, State of Connecticut Insurance Department supports the
bill as it seeks to bring the more than 300 licensed surety bond agents to the same level of
regulations as other licenses regulated by the department. There is currently no penalty or
incentive agents to pay annual assessment fees by the January 31 st deadline. Once the
deadline has passed there is no recourse to collect the fee other than an administrative
procedure which takes 2-3 months. The bill would allow automatic expiration if the fee is not
paid as well as continuing education for bail bond agents. Some of the issues that occur stem
from misinformation. The bill also will move the sweep date of the bail bond agent
examination account from the end of the fiscal year to the end of the calendar year which
allows access to funding for longer than six months.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Kelly McConney Moore, Interim Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
of Connecticut supports the bill particularly section 2 which will establish continuing
education requirements for licenses surety bail bond agents in CT as bail bond agents are
largely unregulated. Bail bond agents have a wide discretion that allow for arrests and
physical force to effect the arrest. They are for-profit businesses that make billions on the
backs of low-income people and communities of color that have been ravished by mass
incarceration and over policing.
Jeffrey J. Clayton, Esq., Executive Director, American Bail Coalition is concerned with
the regulation of licensed bail agents. He supports the continuation of education requirements
in CT and looks forward to working with the department to come up with a sensible program.
He is concerned with the automatic expiration of the license provision being 10 days and
instead asked for a 30-day upfront grace period and a 30-day reinstatement grace period.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed.
Reported by: Christina Cruz Date: 03/30/2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-6393


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
INS Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 340: