Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits charitable bail assistance.

Highlights:

• Defines “bail bondsman” as any person, partnership, or corporation partaking in a for profit business of, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):

• Furnishing bail, making bonds, or entering undertakings for the appearance of individuals charged with law violations punishable by fines, imprisonment, or death; or

• Acquiring the payment regarding imposed fines and the court's final disposition of assessed costs.

• Specifies that bail bondsmen are limited to the business of the acts, transactions, and undertakings described (Sec. 1).

• Defines “charitable bail organization” as an institution soliciting or accepting donations from the public for, but not limited to, the following purposes (Sec. 1):

• Furnishing bail, making bonds, or entering undertakings for the appearance of individuals charged with law violations punishable by fines, imprisonment, or death; or

• Acquiring the payment regarding imposed fines and the court's final disposition of assessed costs. 

• Specifies that charitable bail organizations are unable to perform the following (Sec. 1): 

• Furnishing bail, funds or property serving as bail in the amount of $5,000 or more; or 

• Making bonds or entering undertakings with a value of $5,000 or more. 

• Requires the photo identification of any person posting bail or bond on behalf of an organization (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any person from engaging in the business of bail bondsman for compensation or other consideration in the form of (Sec. 1):

• Furnishing bails, funds, or property servings as bail;

• Making bonds; 

• Entering undertakings for the appearance of individuals charged with law violations punishable by fines, imprisonment, or death; or

• Acquiring the payment regarding imposed fines and the court's final disposition of assessed costs. 

• Prohibits charitable bail organizations, regardless of the amount, from the furnishing of bail, funds, or property used as bail, entering undertakings for (Sec. 1): 

• Offenses regarding domestic violence and abuse;

• Offenses regarding dating violence and abuse; or

• Individuals being held under a civil court order issued under KRS 222.430 to 222.437.

• Requires that charitable bail organizations must maintain and disclose the following information to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary every year no later than October 31 (Sec. 1):

• Organization expenditures;

• A separate report containing the amount furnished for bail, funds, or property servings as bail; and

• Total number of individuals and offense classifications for those who were provided those resources.

• Requires that if a bond posted by a charitable organization is ruled forfeited due to engagement of a new criminal offense, the victim of the recent crime will be given the bond (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that bail bondsmen licensed by this state are still under the obligation of undischarged bail bond liability (Sec.1).

Full Bill Text