Florida Statutes 648.355 – Limited surety agents and professional bail bond agents; qualifications
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 648.355
- 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.
- Bail bond agent: means a limited surety agent or a professional bail bond agent as hereafter defined. See Florida Statutes 648.25
- Credit report: A detailed report of an individual's credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining a loan applicant's creditworthiness. Source: OCC
- Temporary bail bond agent: means a person licensed before January 1, 2024, who is employed by a bail bond agent or agency, insurer, or managing general agent, and such licensee has the same authority as a licensed bail bond agent, including presenting defendants in court; apprehending, arresting, and surrendering defendants to the proper authorities, while accompanied by a supervising bail bond agent or an agent from the same agency; and keeping defendants under necessary surveillance. See Florida Statutes 648.25
(1) The applicant shall furnish, with the application for license, a complete set of the applicant’s fingerprints in accordance with s. 626.171(4) and a recent credential-sized, fullface photograph of the applicant. The department may not issue a license under this section until the department has received a report from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation relative to the existence or nonexistence of a criminal history report based on the applicant’s fingerprints.
(2) The department may collect a fee necessary to cover the cost of a character and credit report made by an established and reputable independent reporting service. The fee shall be deposited to the credit of the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund.
(3) Effective July 1, 2023, any individual licensed by the department as a temporary bail bond agent may take the required bail bond agent licensure examination and may file an application for a bail bond agent license if otherwise qualified for licensure.
(4) Effective July 1, 2023, the department may not issue a temporary bail bond agent license. An individual currently licensed as a temporary bail bond agent may continue to be licensed in accordance with this chapter. A temporary bail bond agent license may not be reinstated if the license expires or is terminated, suspended, or revoked.