§ 51-10A-2 — Registration of bail bond enforcers and authorization by bail bondsman required; fees

West Virginia § 51-10A-2

• Jurisdiction: West Virginia
• Ch. 51: COURTS AND THEIR OFFICERS
• Art. 10A: BAIL BOND ENFORCERS

Text

(a) No person may act in the capacity of a bail bond enforcer within this state or perform any of the functions, duties, or powers prescribed for bail bond enforcers under section one of this article unless duly registered with the West Virginia state police as provided in this section.

(b) The superintendent of the West Virginia state police shall design registration, authorization and notice forms, which, at minimum, shall require:

(1) Identifying information as to the registrant and at least one bail bondsman on whose behalf he or she is authorized to act as agent: Provided, That a registrant may not act on behalf of any bail bondsman until authorization to act is filed with the superintendent;

(2) A complete set of the registrant's fingerprints, certified by an authorized law-enforcement officer;

(3) A recent credential-sized, full-face photograph of the registrant;

(4) Certification, under penalties of perjury, that the registrant is at least twenty-one years of age, is a citizen of the United States, and has never been convicted of a felony in any state of the United States;

(5) Authorization in writing, as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, from any bail bondsman on whose behalf the bail bond enforcer is authorized to enter this state or act within this state; and

(6) Other information as the superintendent determines is reasonable and necessary.

(c) A bail bondsman conducting a bonding business in this state may grant continuing authorization to a bail bond enforcer who is a citizen and resident of this state to act as his or her agent on a continuing basis, for a period of time not to exceed two years, either statewide or within named counties or judicial circuits of the state, with respect to all defendants for whom the bail bondsman acts as surety to secure an appearance. A continuing authorization shall state the expiration date of the authorization on the face of the document.

(d) A bail bondsman within or without this state may grant authorization to a bail bond enforcer within or without this state to act as his or her agent with respect to a named defendant or named defendants, for a period of time not to exceed sixty days, in which case notice in advance of any action to the West Virginia state police of the time and place of any proposed action within this state with respect to any defendant, and the date any bail bond enforcer who is not a resident of this state will enter the state, is required. An authorization shall state the expiration date of the authorization on the face of the document.

(e) The superintendent may require any reasonable interrogatories or examinations relating to a registrant's qualifications or other matters which are reasonably necessary to protect the public.

(f)(1) The superintendent may establish and collect a reasonable registration fee not to exceed $50 to accompany registration, and a filing fee not to exceed $10 to accompany the filing of any authorization, to be used for the purposes of defraying administrative and other expenses incurred due to the enactment of this article. No fee is authorized for the filing of notices required under this article.

(2) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special account, designated the "bail bond enforcer account." All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be deposited in the bail bond enforcer account. Expenditures from the account shall be for the purposes set forth in this subsection and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature.

(g) The superintendent is authorized to file and disseminate an interpretive rule for the purpose of providing information and guidance to prospective registrants, bail bondsmen, and the general public with respect to the enforcement of this article. The superintendent is charged with the enforcement of this article in the civil and criminal courts of the state and may take any lawful action reasonably necessary to effectuate its purposes.

Legislative History

2000 Reg. Sess., HB4481