HB 1373 - DIGEST

     Provides that a person must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain a bail enforcement agent license:  (1) Be at least twenty-one years of age;

     (2) be a citizen or resident alien of the United States;

     (3) not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction in the preceding ten years that the director determines directly relates to the capacity to perform the duties of a bail enforcement agent;

     (4) not currently be engaged in law enforcement or be vested with police powers;

     (5) have passed a written examination given by the department measuring knowledge and competence of the bail bond business and relevant statutes and case law.  The department shall formulate the examination after consulting with the bail bond industry;

     (6) have a license to carry a concealed pistol;

     (7) have a current firearms certificate issued by the commission; and

     (8) have filed with the director the bond required of this act if the applicant is not employed by or does not have an employment offer from a licensed bail bond agency, bail bond agent, or qualified agent.

     Declares that, after July 1, 2000, any person who performs the functions and duties of a bail enforcement agent in this state without being licensed in accordance with this chapter, or any person presenting or attempting to use as his or her own the license of another, or any person who falsely claims to be a bail enforcement agent or creates an impression that he or she is a bail enforcement agent, or any person who gives false or forged evidence of any kind to the director in obtaining a license, or any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

     Provides that a bail enforcement agent from another state who is not licensed in Washington may operate temporarily in this state for up to thirty days per year if the bail enforcement agent obtains a temporary bail enforcement agent license from the director or the bail enforcement agent from another state works under direct supervision of a Washington state-licensed bail enforcement agent for the period in which the bail enforcement agent will operate in this state.