BAIL AGENT LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Become a Bail Bondsman - How to find Bail Agent Jobs - Department of Insurance Process
CDI Approved Classes Held in Sacramento, Modesto, San Jose, Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, San Diego, Inland Empire, Norco Corona, and by Special Order
Bail Pre-Licensing Registrar - 1-877-726-9092
Please Note: the following bail agent pre-licensing information is subject to change on a regular basis and should be considered only a guide for those wishing to secure information on the bail agent licensing process. Precise and Current information is continuously provided at Bailspeak classes and in conjunction with manuals, relevant handouts, and on-point lecture about the state of bail agent licensing, fees and other regulations as they are made available.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
Please read the following:
Answer the background screening questions on your application truthfully and completely. You must read the background screening questions on the application carefully and answer truthfully and completely. Provide all the information being requested at the time you file your application to prevent delays.
Failure to disclose disciplinary actions or crimes which occurred, can be considered an attempt to obtain a license by fraud or misrepresentation and could result in the DENIAL and/or DELAY in processing of your application. Regardless of any advice that may have been received from others, the license applicant is held responsible, under penalty of perjury, for disclosing accurate and complete information.
Carefully review your entire history and provide complete and accurate information. You must provide accurate, complete and detailed background information regarding:
Any disciplinary action taken against a business or professional license;
Any criminal convictions (except juvenile offenses) (This includes DUIs, reckless driving convictions, driving on a suspended license convictions, misdemeanors, felonies, military offenses, etc.); and
Any criminal charges pending at the time you submit your application.
When in doubt disclose. In the event you have one or more offenses to report, please make sure you disclose all convictions regardless of how long ago they occurred, or whether or not a conviction has been dismissed under California Penal Code Section 1203.4 or a similar statute.
WARNING:
The failure to disclose charges/convictions will cause substantial delays in the processing of your application and may result in denial of your license application. Failure to disclose all convictions is falsification of the application which was signed under penalty of perjury and is grounds for denial.
Keep in mind that due to the severity and nature of the criminal history in some instances, the license application can still be denied irregardless of how well the applicant follows instructions in the application process in completing the background questions.
AGENTS & BROKERS: BAIL AGENT (BA)
Applicable Forms
Application for Bail License, form LIC 431-1
Application for a Bail Agent Corporation License, form LIC 431-2
Bond of Bail Agent, form LIC 437-9
Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent or Permittee, form LIC 438
Bail Agent Action Notice, form LIC 437-23
Change of Stockholder, Officer, or Director, form LIC 437-25
Candidate Information Bulletin
Authorizing Act: Section 1802 of the California Insurance Code reads, in part: A bail agent is a person permitted to solicit, negotiate, and effect undertakings of bail on behalf of any surety insurer.
Qualifications
Minimum Age: 18 years.
Residency: California residency is required. (Further Details Provided During Class)
Prelicensing Experience/Education:Require a minimum of 20 hours of approved prelicensingclassroom study in subjects pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of a bail licensee, including, but not limited to, all laws and regulations related thereto, rights of the accused, and ethics.
Continuing Education: Require annually a minimum of 6 hours of approved continuing bail education classroom study prior to the renewal of his or her license.
Entity: Individual/Corporation
Filing Requirements - Individual:
Application: Application for Bail License, form LIC 431-1.
Bond: A Bond of Bail Agent, form LIC 437-9, in the penal sum of $1,000 executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal.
Action Notice of Appointment: A Bail Agent Action Notice, form LIC 437-23, executed by a surety insurer or its authorized representative.
Forms Filing List: A copy of the forms or documents which the bail agent intends to use regularly or frequently in connection with bail transactions.
Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent Or Permittee: Form LIC 438, is required when employing or terminating the employment of another bail agent or permittee.
Fingerprint impressions are required for all unlicensed bail applicants.
First Time Applicants - two year term: $426 (effective 6/15/2013 this fee will be $468) per surety company. This fee does not include the examination fee.
Examination: Fingerprint: Review Fingerprint Processing link for fees.
Renewal - two year term: $128 (effective 6/15/2013 this fee will be $140) per surety company.
Examination: Applicants must pass the examination prepared and administered by the Department.
Examination is based on information and materials covered during the 20 hour prelicensing course available via www.baislpeak.com and its licensed bail agent instructor.
Filing Requirements - Corporation:
Application: Application for Bail License, form LIC 431-2.
Bond: A Bond of Bail Agent, form LIC 437-9, in the penal sum of $1,000 executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal.
Action Notice of Appointment: A Bail Agent Action Notice, form LIC 437-23, executed by a surety insurer or it's authorized representative.
Forms Filing List: A copy of the forms or documents which the corporation intends to use regularly or frequently in connection with bail transactions.
Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent or Permittee: form LIC 438, is required when employing or terminating the employment of a natural person to act as a bail agent for the corporation.
Fees - Corporation:
License filing - two year term: $426 (effective 6/15/2013 this fee will be $468) per surety company (two year term).
Renewal - two year term: $128 (effective 6/15/2013 this fee will be $140) per surety company.
License Term:
Pursuant to Section 1807.7. of the California Insurance Code, licenses are issued for two year terms.
Renewal of License
Notice - Changes to License Renewals
Notice - Changes in Licensing Laws for 2010
Note: Bail Agent Individual and Business Entity insurance producers must submit their renewal filings to CDI electronically.
The
California Department of Insurance (CDI) discontinued mailing renewal notices
to individuals and business entities licensed through CDI's Producer Licensing
Bureau. CDI now emails licensees a renewal notification to their email address
on record. The email notification includes the license number, license term,
license type, and information regarding any continuing education requirements.
You can update your e-mail address using CDI's Online Address Change service.
Individuals and business entities who do not receive the email notification must still renew their license online by following the prompts on CDI's Online Renewal Service at the following website link: Free Application Online Renewal Service (FLRS).
Any Bail licensees that do not renew their license by the license expiration date will be required to refile for the license with a new application, appointments and pay double the filing fee. "Late" is defined as any renewal for which the requirements to renew (including completing the continuing education hours) are not met until after the expiration date of the previous license term.
Additional Information
Federal law (Title 18 United States Code Section 1033) prohibits anyone who has
been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from
conducting the business of insurance unless they have obtained the written
consent of the Insurance Commissioner. It is a violation of this statute to
conduct business of insurance without the Commissioners written consent. If you
have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust then
you must attach a copy of this consent. If you have not obtained this written
consent you must do so by filing a 1033
Short Form Application for Written Consent prior to filing your
application.
Licenses may be issued to corporations to act as bail agents. Each officer, director, stockholder, and employee must hold an individual bail agent license.
Any change in stockholders for the corporation shall require the prior approval of the department. Changes in stockholders, officers or directors may be submitted on form LIC 437-25.
Bail licenses are issued for two year terms.
A Bail Identification card will be issued for all individual licensees.
An individual Bail agent's and a permittee's license may be applied for at the same time, on the same application. Only a permittee's bond is required.
If a currently licensed bail permittee is now applying for an agent's license, the permittee's bond on file will cover both licenses.
If a bail solicitor applicant is to work for two or more bail licensees who are members of a partnership, a separate Action Notice Statement from each employer and an additional filing fee for each is required.
Note:
A corporation may not employ a bail solicitor or permittee.
To obtain insurance licensing forms by mail, send an e-mail request to: Producer Licensing Bureau.
To obtain Bail licensing information, you may phone the Producer Licensing Bureau Bail unit at (916) 492-3035.
All fees mailed to the Department must be addressed to:
Department of
Insurance
P.O. Box 1139
Sacramento, CA 95812-1139
All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken. [LIC 651 (Rev. 04/2013)]
Copyright 2003 – 2013 Bailspeak, All Rights Reserved
Click on the Above Photo to See Actual Video Footage from Bailspeak's Maiden Bail Education Class!
The Origins of this California Bail Education School
In 1994, would-be bounty hunters began contacting Rex and requesting an opportunity to somehow obtain “experience” in bounty hunting in order to secure bounty hunting jobs. This series of bail bond company owner referrals led to the Critical Response Training Academy based out of Tracy, California and served as the catalysts for what today is known as California’s Fastest Growing, Most Trusted, and Most Transparent Bail Education School in California and with students traveling from all over California, the Mid-West, the East Coast and even internationally to learn for themselves why Bailspeak is the Number 1 Choice for bail bond job recruiters—bar none!
Rex originally submitted a hardcopy proposal, faxed proposal, email proposal and follow-up telephone calls to the then existing bail education providers in California and offered to provide his vision in bail education curriculum and to even instruct the curriculum for the up and running bail education providers in 2006, but not one replied in any way whatsoever.
Undaunted, Rex then took on the major task of getting a new Brand of bail education up and running despite the so-called “experts” claiming that the bail education establishment could not be disrupted from the complacent status quo.
Today, Bailspeak students arrive from all over California and even by-pass class offerings from the few remaining bail education providers to attend Bailspeak’s very exclusive Brand of California Bail Education; moreover, Bailspeak classes are now reaching capacity, sometimes months in advance, largely because each class is kept small by design and goes to the very important personal attention of each student who are transitioning to Alumni.
Bailspeak is going into its seventh year, and, photographed, is the very first CDI Approved bail agent pre-licensing class that was held in Modesto, California during the weekend of March 7th through the 9th in 2008.
~ From the Bailspeak Ladies and Rex, thank you all for your support Christine, Bailspeak General Manager