The House Insurance Committee heard Rep. Frizzell’s HB 1137 on bail and bail agent license renewal. This bill decreases the bail agent renewal fee from $600 to $300. The bill also requires a court to declare a bail bond obtained by a defendant by deposit of cash or securities forfeited not later than (rather than not earlier than) 120 days after failure of the defendant to appear. Rep. Frizzell testified that this bill in no way is meant to interfere with a judge’s ability to assign bail.
A representative from American Surety Companies testified in favor of the bill. A representative of the Indiana Public Defender Council testified against this bill, stating that the sole purpose of this bill is to help the surety bond industry. The bill was held to “tighten up” the forfeiture timeline language.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1137