Plain English Breakdown
The effective date is missing from the provided official metadata and text excerpts.
Bail Consumer Protection Act
This law stops bail agents and impersonators from calling families of arrested people to sell services unless the family asks first, and it makes pretending to be a licensed bail agent while trying to sell bonds a crime.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits bail agents or impersonators from contacting family members or known contacts of an arrested person to offer bail bond services without permission.
- Allows contact only if the communication is in response to a voluntary inquiry or bona fide request started by that family member or known contact.
- Makes it a misdemeanor for any person to willfully pretend to be, or falsely claim to be, a licensed bail agent while soliciting or attempting to solicit bail from anyone.
- Sets civil penalties that can be enforced by the Attorney General or public prosecutors.
- Defines specific terms used in this act.
Who It Names or Affects
- Bail agents and anyone who impersonates them
- Family members and known contacts of arrested individuals
- The Insurance Commissioner, who issues bail licenses under existing law
- Public prosecutors and the Attorney General
Terms To Know
- Bona fide request
- A genuine inquiry for services that is started by the person asking.
- Misdemeanor
- A crime punishable under state law, which this bill creates for impersonating a bail agent while soliciting business.
- Civil penalties
- Fines or other punishments enforced by the Attorney General or public prosecutors for breaking these rules.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text does not state when this law will officially take effect.
- The bill states that no reimbursement is required from the state to local agencies, but it only says 'for a specified reason' without explaining what that reason is in the summary.