Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires photographic identification cards for bail agents.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning identification requirements for bail agents and supplementing Title 17 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As a condition of licensure pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2001, c.210 (C.17:22A-26 et seq.), a bail agent shall possess and display an identification card containing the bail agent’s photograph, license number, and any other information deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
As used in this section, “bail agent” means any person that solicits, negotiates, or sells bail bonds, or is affiliated in any manner with the execution of bail and is licensed as a limited lines insurance producer pursuant to P.L.2001, c.210 (C.17:22A-26 et seq.), an insurance producer, or a limited insurance representative.
2. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment, but the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance may take such administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires photographic identification cards for bail agents. Current law requires bail agents to be licensed by the Department of Banking and Insurance. Under the provisions of this bill, as a condition of licensure, a bail agent is required to possess and display an identification card.
The identification card is required to display the bail agent’s photograph, license number, and any other information deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. Finally, the bill requires the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations that are necessary to effectuate the bill’s provisions.
This bill implements a recommendation by the State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation in its May 2014 report entitled, “Inside Out: Questionable and Abusive Practices in New Jersey’s Bail-Bond Industry.”