(1) “Charitable bail organization” means a business entity, or a nonprofit organization under:

(B) Indiana law;

that exists for the purpose of paying cash bail for another person. However, the term does not include a person who pays cash bail for three (3) or fewer defendants in any one hundred eighty (180) day period, or a person who pays bail for a relative (as defined in IC 35-42-2-1(b)).

(2) “Crime of violence” has the meaning set forth in IC 35-50-1-2(a).

     (b) The commissioner may certify a charitable bail organization if the charitable bail organization:

(1) is a business entity, or a nonprofit organization under:

(A) the Internal Revenue Code; or

(B) Indiana law;

(2) is currently registered to do business in Indiana;

(3) is located in Indiana; and

(4) exists for the purpose of depositing cash bail for an indigent defendant who:

(A) is not charged with a crime of violence; or

(B) if charged with a felony, does not have a prior conviction for a crime of violence.

     (c) A person may apply for certification under this section in accordance with rules adopted under this section.

     (d) The commissioner shall certify a person as a charitable bail organization if the:

(1) person pays an application fee of three hundred dollars ($300);

(2) person meets the requirements of this section; and

(3) person, including an officer or director of the person, has not engaged in conduct that:

(A) constitutes fraud, dishonesty, or deception;

(B) constitutes malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in dealing with money; or

(C) resulted in the suspension or revocation of a previous certification.

     (e) A charitable bail certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance and may be renewed upon payment of a renewal fee of three hundred dollars ($300). If a person applies for renewal before the expiration of the existing certification, the existing certification remains valid until the commissioner renews the certification, or until five (5) days after the commissioner denies the application for renewal. A person is entitled to renewal unless the commissioner denies the application for renewal under subsection (f).

     (f) The commissioner shall deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew certification for any of the following causes:

(1) Any cause for which issuance of the certification could have been refused had it then existed and been known to the commissioner.

(2) Violation of any laws of this state in the course of dealings under the certification.

(3) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining the certification.

(4) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of money belonging to donors or others and received in the conduct of business under the certification.

(5) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the certification.

(6) Willful failure to comply with or willful violation of any proper order or rule of the commissioner.

(7) When, in the judgment of the commissioner, the certificate holder has, in the conduct of affairs under the certification, demonstrated:

(A) incompetency or untrustworthiness;

(B) conduct or practices rendering the certificate holder unfit to carry on charitable bail activities or making the certificate holder’s continuance detrimental to the public interest; or

(C) that the certificate holder is no longer in good faith carrying on as a charitable bail organization;

and for these reasons is found by the commissioner to be a source of detriment, injury, or loss to the public.

(8) The listing of the name of the applicant or certificate holder on the most recent tax warrant list supplied to the commissioner by the department of state revenue.

     (g) A charitable bail organization must comply with all of the following:

(1) If the charitable bail organization pays, or intends to pay, bail for more than three (3) individuals in any one hundred eighty (180) day period, the charitable bail organization must be certified by the commissioner under this section before soliciting or accepting donations for bail for another person, and before depositing money for bail for another person.

(2) A charitable bail organization may not pay bail for a defendant who:

(A) is charged with a crime of violence; or

(B) is charged with a felony and has a prior conviction for a crime of violence.

(3) A charitable bail organization may not execute a surety bond for a defendant.

(4) A charitable bail organization shall, before paying bail for an individual, execute an agreement described in IC 35-33-8-3.2 allowing the court to retain all or a part of the bail to pay publicly paid costs of representation and fines, costs, fees, and restitution that the court may order the defendant to pay if the defendant is convicted.

(5) A charitable bail organization may not charge a premium or receive any consideration for acting as a charitable bail organization.

     (h) All fees collected under this section must be deposited in the bail bond enforcement and administration fund created by IC 27-10-5-1.

     (i) Any authorized employee of a charitable bail organization may only deposit cash bail to the court.

     (j) If an individual fails to appear, the bail shall be forfeited in the manner described in IC 35-33-8-7 and the court shall take the steps described in IC 35-33-8-8.

As added by P.L.147-2022, SEC.2.