SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6544

              As Passed Senate, February 13, 1996

Title:  An act relating to bail bond agency branch offices.

Brief Description:  Regulating bail bond agency branch offices.

Sponsors:  Senators Smith and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Trade:  1/31/96, 2/1/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/13/96, 47-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Deccio, Franklin, Fraser and Wojahn.

Staff:  Erika Lim (786-7488)

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 of Bill:  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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Some bail bond agencies offer bail bond services in counties other than the one in which they are located.  This bill will make it easier for persons wishing to redeem the collateral put up for a bond issued by one of these agencies.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Gordon Walgren, WA State Bail Agents Association (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The House amendment clarifies that a branch office is an actual office and not just a location and that a separate license, not a duplicate license, is issued to each branch office.