SRC-JJJ H.B. 3457 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3457
By: Hinojosa (Armbrister)
Criminal Justice
5/12/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Current law requires bail bondsmen to be licensed and regulated by bail
bond boards, but only in counties with a population of at least 110,000
people.  Bail bondsmen are otherwise largely unregulated in the 240
counties with a population under 110,000 people.  H.B. 3457 would establish
certain regulations regarding the renewal of certain bail bondsman
licenses. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3457 establishes regulations regarding the renewal of
certain bail bondsman licenses. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 8, Article 2372p-3, V.T.C.S., by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), to provide that a person who
applies for a renewal of a license that has been held by the person for at
least six consecutive years without having been suspended or revoked and
who complies with the requirements of this Act may renew the license within
a period of 48 months from the date of expiration if the county bail bond
board (board) knows of no legal reason why the applicant should not be
renewed and if the board determines that the applicant has submitted an
annual financial report to each board before the anniversary date of the
issuance of the applicant's license.  Authorizes a license renewed under
this subsection to be  subsequently renewed each 48 months in a similar
manner. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.
 
SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.