Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires identification cards for bail agents per SCI recommendations.
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. a. 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.
b. 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.
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 sixth 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 identification cards for bail agents. Under current law, bail agents are required 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 to contain the bail agent’s photograph, license number, and any other information deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. Under the bill, the commissioner is required to adopt rules and regulations that are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this bill.
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.”