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HB2480: Bail bondsman; prohibits use of real property as collateral for a bond.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2480
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 9, 2007
A BILL to amend and reenact § 9.1-185.10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to collateral on bonds.
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Patron-- Crockett-Stark
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Committee Referral Pending
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 9.1-185.10 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 9.1-185.10. Collateral received in the course of business; standards and requirements.

A. A licensed bail bondsman shall be permitted to accept collateral security, other than real property, or other indemnity from the principal, which shall be returned upon final termination of liability on the bond, including the conclusion of all appeals or appeal periods. Such collateral security or other indemnity required by the bail bondsman shall be reasonable in relation to the amount of the bond.

B. When a bondsman accepts collateral, he shall give a written receipt to the depositor. The receipt shall provide a full description of the collateral received and the terms of redemption or forfeiture. The receipt shall also include the depositor's name and contact information.

C. Any bail bondsman who receives collateral in connection with a bail transaction shall receive such collateral in a fiduciary capacity, and prior to any forfeiture of bail shall keep it separate and apart from any other funds or assets of such bail bondsman. In the event a bondsman receives collateral in the nature of a tangible good, it shall be a per se violation of the bail bondsman's fiduciary duty to make personal use of any such collateral unless there is a proper forfeiture of bail.

D. Any collateral received shall be returned with all due diligence to the person who deposited it with the bail bondsman or any assignee other than the bail bondsman as soon as the obligation is discharged and all fees owed to the bail bondsman have been paid. In any event, after a specific request for the return of the collateral by the depositor, the collateral shall be returned within 15 days after all fees owed have been paid.

Additional Data

Explanation

This is the actual text of the bill — the legislation itself. Generally this is amending existing law, proposing the addition or removal of words from laws that are already on the books.

Words that are highlighted in yellow are proposed additions, and words that are crossed out in red are proposed removals.

The numbers with the § symbol before them are references to existing laws, and if you click on them they’ll take you to that part of the law on the state's website.