(a) On and after January 1, 2022, no insurer, bail agent, or other bail licensee shall enter into a contract, agreement, or undertaking of bail that requires the payment of more than one premium for the duration of the agreement, and the duration of the agreement shall be until bail is exonerated. On and after January 1, 2022, no insurer, bail agent, or other bail licensee, shall charge, collect, or receive a renewal premium in connection with a contract, agreement, or undertaking of bail.

(b) On and after July 1, 2022, no insurer or insurance licensee shall enter into a contract, agreement, or undertaking to post an immigration bond that requires the payment of more than one premium for the duration of the agreement, and the duration of the agreement shall be until the bond is exonerated. An insurer or insurance licensee shall not charge, collect, or receive a renewal premium in connection with a contract, agreement, or undertaking to post an immigration bond entered into on and after July 1, 2022.

Terms Used In California Penal Code 1276.1

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7

(c) The violation of this section by an insurer, insurance licensee, bail agent, or other bail licensee shall make the violator liable to the person affected by the violation for all damages that person may sustain by reason of the violation plus statutory damages in the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000). Any person affected by a violation of this section shall be entitled, if they prevail, to recover court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees as determined by the court in any action brought to enforce this section.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 444, Sec. 1. (AB 1347) Effective January 1, 2022.)