We are often asked for information about current bail bond laws or where the actual laws can be found. For your convenience we have posted the following relevant laws for informational purposes, for those who have an interest. If you have any questions, give us a call at (800) 4-BAILCO, and our staff will be happy to help.
History: (Revisor's note: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in 1996 public and special acts, effective September 1, 1998); P.A. 97-287 amended Subsec. (c) to add penalty provision; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 substituted "or" for a comma in Subdiv. (f)(2), amended Subsec. (j) to substitute "responsibilities of" for "responsibilities to" re surety bail bond agents and amended Subsec. (n) to delete reference to appeals under Sec. 54-65a, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (h) by eliminating exceptions to disqualification based on time elapsed since conviction and by listing the misdemeanors that would disqualify an applicant; P.A. 01-175 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing requirement that each applicant submit to a background investigation with provision re commissioner's requiring each applicant to submit to a background investigation, and replacing provision re Federal Bureau of Investigation and fees with provision re criminal history records checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a, effective July 1, 2001.
Sec. 38a-660a. Notice to courts and police departments of names of licensees.
The Insurance Commissioner shall furnish to all courts and to all organized police departments in the state, the names of all persons licensed as surety bail bond agents under this chapter and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such police departments of any change in any such agent's status or of the suspension or revocation of the license of any such agent to engage in such business.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 7.)
Reserved for future use.
Any person who makes a business of furnishing bail in criminal cases or who furnishes bail in five or more criminal cases in any one year, whether for compensation or otherwise, shall be deemed a professional bondsman and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Any resident elector of the state of Connecticut who is of good moral character and of sound financial responsibility may, upon obtaining a license therefor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, engage in the business of professional bondsman within this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 3728.)
Expressly exempts state from showing defendant received compensation. 25 CA 643--645.
Sec. 29-145. Bondsmen to be licensed.
Any person desiring to engage in the business of a professional bondsman shall apply to the Commissioner of Public Safety for a license therefor. Such application shall set forth under oath the full name, age, residence and occupation of the applicant, whether the applicant intends to engage in the business of a professional bondsman individually or in partnership or association with another or others, and, if so, the identity of each. It shall also set forth under oath a statement of the assets and liabilities of the applicant, and whether the applicant has been charged with or convicted of crime, and such other information, including fingerprints and photographs, as said commissioner from time to time may require. The commissioner shall require the applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The criminal history records checks required pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be licensed to do business as a professional bondsman in this state. No person engaged in law enforcement or vested with police powers shall be licensed to do business as a professional bondsman.
(1949 Rev., S. 3729; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 01-175, S. 24, 32.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 01-175 added language re criminal history records checks in accordance with Sec. 29-17a and made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001.
Cited. 25 CA 643--645.
Sec. 29-146. Investigation of applicant for license. Fee. Term of license.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall, upon receipt of such application, cause an investigation to be made of the character and financial responsibility of the applicant and, if he finds that such applicant is a resident elector of good moral character and of sound financial responsibility, he shall, upon payment by such applicant to the state of a license fee of one hundred dollars, issue a license to such applicant to do business in this state as a professional bondsman. Each such license shall be for such term not exceeding one year as said commissioner determines.
(1949 Rev., S. 3730; P.A. 96-180, S. 154, 166.)
History: P.A. 96-180 substituted "The Commissioner of Public Safety" for "Said commissioner", effective June 3, 1996.
Sec. 29-147. Renewal, revocation or suspension of license.
Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter may apply for a renewal of his license upon renewal application forms provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety and requiring the disclosure of such information as said commissioner requires in determining whether or not such professional bondsman's financial responsibility remains unimpaired or whether for any other reason such bondsman's fitness to continue in such business has been otherwise altered since the issuance of any prior license. Said commissioner may suspend for a definite term or revoke any license issued under the provisions of this chapter if it appears to said commissioner that such licensee has been convicted of a felony in this state or elsewhere or is engaged in any unlawful activity affecting his fitness to continue in the business of professional bondsman or that his financial responsibility has been substantially impaired.
(1949 Rev., S. 3731; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979.
Sec. 29-147a. Suspension of license for failure to pay forfeited bond.
The Commissioner of Public Safety may suspend any license issued under the provisions of this chapter of any professional bondsman when he finds that such surety has failed to pay a forfeited bond. Such license shall remain so suspended and shall not be reinstated nor shall any such license be issued to such surety until such person pays such forfeited bond.
(P.A. 80-312.)
Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall forthwith inform the Commissioner of Public Safety in writing of any material change in his assets or liabilities affecting his responsibility as a bondsman and shall at any time, upon request of said commissioner, furnish him with a statement under oath of his assets and liabilities, including all bonds on which such bondsman is obligated.
(1949 Rev., S. 3732; P.A. 96-180, S. 155, 166.)
History: P.A. 96-180 substituted "the Commissioner of Public Safety" for "said commissioner", effective June 3, 1996.
Sec. 29-149. Notice to courts and municipal departments of names of bondsmen.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall furnish to all courts and to all town, city and borough departments in the state, having authority to accept bail, the names of all professional bondsmen licensed under the provisions of this chapter and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such town, city and borough departments of any change in any such bondsman's status or of the suspension or revocation of any bondsman's license to engage in such business.
(1949 Rev., S. 3733; P.A. 96-180, S. 156, 166.)
History: P.A. 96-180 substituted "The Commissioner of Public Safety" for "Said commissioner", effective June 3, 1996.
Sec. 29-150. Oath of bondsmen. Form.
Each professional bondsman shall, when furnishing surety for recognizances of any person charged with crime, take oath to the sufficiency of his security upon a uniform form furnished for such purpose by the clerk of the Superior Court and approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety. No person who offers himself as surety on bail in any criminal case shall falsely represent that he is the legal or equitable owner of any stated property.
(1949 Rev., S. 3734; 1961, P.A. 129; 1969, P.A. 57; P.A. 74-183, S. 265, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 228, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610.)
History: 1961 act provided for furnishing of forms by state police commissioner in lieu of superior court clerk; 1969 act required use of "uniform" form and transferred responsibility for furnishing form from state police commissioner to clerks of superior or circuit courts; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979.
Sec. 29-151. Maximum commission or fee. Reports to Commissioner of Public Safety.
No such professional bondsman shall charge for his commission or fee more than fifty dollars for the amount of bail furnished by him up to five hundred dollars, nor more than ten per cent of the amount of bail furnished by him from five hundred dollars up to five thousand dollars, nor more than seven per cent of the amount of bail furnished by him on sums in excess of five thousand dollars. When a professional bondsman has furnished bail to an accused in a criminal proceeding, the fee which he receives therefor shall be credited on account of his fee for any subsequent bail in an increased amount which he may furnish for the same person in the same criminal proceeding; but this provision shall not apply to bail furnished on appeal of a conviction or bindover of an accused. Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall annually, during the month of January, on forms furnished by the Commissioner of Public Safety, report to said commissioner in detail the names of the persons for whom such bondsman has become surety during the year ended December thirty-first preceding, with the date, the amount of bond and the fee charged and paid and such further information as said commissioner requires.
(1949 Rev., S. 3735; 1969, P.A. 206; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 83-163; P.A. 86-183.)
History: 1969 act increased bondsman's commission (1) from five to twenty dollars on bail amounts up to three hundred, rather than one hundred, dollars, (2) from five to seven per cent for changed three hundred dollar lower range up to five thousand dollars and (3) from two and one-half to five per cent for amounts exceeding five thousand dollars; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-163 increased bondsman's commission from a maximum of seven per cent to a maximum of ten per cent for amounts of bail furnished from three hundred dollars up to five thousand dollars; P.A. 86-183 increased maximum fee from twenty to fifty dollars on bail up to five hundred dollars, ten per cent of amount of bail from five hundred to five thousand dollars and changed percentage from five to seven per cent of amount of bail in excess of five thousand dollars.
Cited. 147 C. 1.
Statute upheld as constitutional. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 83. Defendant, after accepting license under statute and acting thereunder, cannot then claim statute is unconstitutional. Id.
Sec. 29-152. Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than two years or both and his right to engage in the business of a professional bondsman in this state shall thereupon be permanently forfeited.
(1949 Rev., S. 3736.)
Reserved for future use.
No person shall, as a surety on a bond in a criminal proceeding or an agent of such surety, engage in the business of taking or attempting to take into custody the principal on the bond who has failed to appear in court and for whom a rearrest warrant or a capias has been issued pursuant to section 54-65a unless such person is licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533, a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f or a bail enforcement agent under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 1.)
Any person desiring to engage in the business of a bail enforcement agent shall apply to the Commissioner of Public Safety for a license therefor. Such application shall set forth under oath the full name, age, date and place of birth, residence and occupation of the applicant. It shall also set forth under oath a statement of whether the applicant has been charged with or convicted of crime, and such other information, including fingerprints and photographs, as required by the commissioner. The commissioner shall submit the applicant's fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. Within five years prior to the date of application, the applicant shall have successfully completed a course in the criminal justice system consisting of not less than twenty hours of study approved by the commissioner. No person who has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor under section 21a-279, 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-173, 53a- 175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, shall be licensed to do business as a bail enforcement agent in this state. No person engaged in law enforcement or vested with police powers shall be licensed to do business as a bail enforcement agent.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 2; P.A. 99-240, S. 18.)
History: P.A. 99-240 added fingerprinting requirement and listed misdemeanors disqualifying applicants.
Sec. 29-152g. Issuance of license.
Upon being satisfied, after investigation, that the applicant is a suitable person to receive a license as a bail enforcement agent, and that the applicant meets the licensing requirements of section 29-152f, the Commissioner of Public Safety may issue a license to such applicant to do business in this state as a bail enforcement agent. The fee for such license shall be one hundred dollars. Each such license shall be for such term not exceeding one year as said commissioner determines. Any bail enforcement agent holding a license issued pursuant to this section or section 29-152h shall notify the commissioner within two business days of any change of address. The notification shall include the bail enforcement agent's old address and new address.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 3; P.A. 99-240, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 99-240 replaced "good character, competency and integrity" with "a suitable person" and added requirement of notification of change of address.
Sec. 29-152h. Renewal of license.
Each person licensed as a bail enforcement agent under the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, may apply for a renewal of such license upon renewal application forms provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety and requiring the disclosure of such information as said commissioner requires in determining whether or not such agent's suitability to continue in such business has changed since the issuance of any prior license. The fee for renewal of a bail enforcement agent's license shall be one hundred dollars.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 4; P.A. 99-240, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 99-240 replaced "such agent's fitness" with "such agent's suitability".
Sec. 29-152i. Suspension or revocation of license.
The Commissioner of Public Safety may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the license of any bail enforcement agent, provided notice shall have been given to the licensee to appear before the commissioner to show cause why the license should not be suspended, revoked or refused renewal, upon a finding by the commissioner that: (1) The licensee has violated any of the terms or provisions of sections 29-152e to 29-152m, inclusive, or section 38a-660a or any of the regulations adopted under section 29-152o; (2) the licensee has practiced fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; (3) the licensee has made a material misstatement in the application for issuance or renewal of such license; (4) the licensee has demonstrated incompetence or untrustworthiness in the conduct of the licensee's business; (5) the licensee has been convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor specified in section 29-152f, or other crime affecting the licensee's honesty, integrity or moral fitness; or (6) the licensee is unsuitable. The suspension or revocation of, or the refusal to renew, any bail enforcement agent's license shall also constitute the revocation of the bail enforcement agent's firearms permit issued pursuant to section 29-152m. Any bail enforcement agent who fails to surrender such license within five days of notification in writing of the suspension or revocation of, or refusal to renew, such license shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. Any party aggrieved by an order of the commissioner under this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district of Hartford.
(P.A. 88-230, S. 10, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 46; P.A. 97-287, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 91, 121; P.A. 99-240, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in public and special acts of 1997, effective September 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98- 1 made technical changes, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 gave the commissioner the authority to refuse to renew a license, added unsuitability as a basis to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license, provided that suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a license also revokes the firearms permit, made failure to surrender a license a class C misdemeanor and made provisions gender neutral.
Sec. 29-152j. Notice to courts and police departments of names of professional bondsmen and bail enforcement agents.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall furnish to all courts and to all organized police departments in the state, the names of all persons licensed as professional bondsmen under chapter 533 or bail enforcement agents under the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such police departments of any change in any such bondsman's or agent's status or of the suspension or revocation of the license of any such bondsman or agent to engage in such business.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 6.)
Prior to taking or attempting to take into custody the principal on a bond, a professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, a surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or a bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, shall notify the police department or resident state trooper for, or state police troop having jurisdiction over, the municipality in which the principal is believed to be located of such bondsman's or agent's intentions.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 8.)
No professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, shall wear, carry or display any uniform, badge, shield or other insignia or emblems that purport to indicate that such bondsman or agent is an employee, officer or agent of the state or any political subdivision of the state or of the federal government.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 9.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (c) by providing for identical expiration dates on the two firearms permits required for bondsmen or agents and made provisions of entire section gender neutral.
Sec. 29-152n. Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of sections 29-152e to 29-152m, inclusive, and 38a-660a shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 11; P.A. 99-240, S. 23.)
History: P.A. 99-240 replaced stated fine and imprisonment with classification of violation of section as class D felony.
Sec. 29-152o. Regulations.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 12.)
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