FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6544

                          C 242 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating bail bond agency branch offices.

Sponsors:  Senators Smith and McCaslin.

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Persons and businesses involved in issuing bail bonds are regulated by the Department of Licensing.  Records keeping and business practices are prescribed, but there are no requirements regarding physical locations of offices.

Summary:  Bail bond agency branch office is defined.

A bail bond agency must maintain a branch office in each county in which it provides bail  bond services.  Each branch office must be separately licensed.  The branch offices must operate under the same name as the principal bail bond agency and must have a qualified bail bond agent as manager.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    47 2

House     90 0 (House amended)

Senate    43 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996