Bail Agent

AUTHORIZING ACT: California State Insurance Code Chapter
7, Part 2, Division 1.

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: Applicant must have been a continuous resident of California for at
least last two years

Prelicensing Experience/Education: Require a minimum of 12 hours of approved
prelicensing classroom 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 education classroom study prior to the renewal of his or her license.

Entity: Individual/Corporation

FILING REQUIREMENTS – INDIVIDUAL:

Application:Application for Bail License, form 431-1.

Bond: A Bond of Bail Agent, form 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 437-23, executed
by a surety insurer or it’s 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 438, required
when employing or terminating the employment of another bail agent or permittee.

Fingerprint Impressions: Required for all unlicensed bail applicants.

Fees – Individual:

• License filing: $209 per company
• Examination: $42 for original examination and any reexaminations
• Fingerprint Processing: $72 Effective November 1, 1999, all bail
  applicants must appear at the designated exam site with check in amount of $72 made
  payable to "SIFC".   VISA/MASTERCARD WILL
  ALSO BE ACCEPTED.  CASH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• Renewal: $62 per company

Examination: Applicants must pass the written examination
prepared and administered by the Department. Examination is based on information and
materials covered during the 12 hour prelicensing course.

FILING REQUIREMENTS – CORPORATION:

Application: Application for Bail License, form 431-2.

Bond: A Bond of Bail Agent, form 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 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 438, required
when employing or terminating the employment of a natural person to act as a bail agent
for the corporation.

FEES – Corporation:

• License filing: $209 per company
• Renewal: $62 per company

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Effective January 01, 1997, 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
437-25.

Bail licensees are issued for a one year term and expire June 30, of each
year.

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.

A corporation may not employ a bail solicitor or permittee.

To obtain insurance licensing FORMS by mail, send request to: Department of
Insurance, 320 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814-4309, or you may phone Sacramento (916)
322-3555, press 4.

To obtain insurance licensing information, you may phone our Sacramento office at (916)
322-3555.

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 OR TRANSFERABLE, WHETHER OR NOT THE
APPLICATION IS ACTED UPON OR THE EXAMINATION TAKEN.