Florida Senate - 2022                             CS for SB 1182
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and Senator Broxson
       
       
       
       
       
       597-02319-22                                          20221182c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to breach of bond costs; amending s.
    3         903.21, F.S.; redefining the term “jurisdiction”;
    4         providing for the exoneration from liability of a
    5         surety on a bond under certain circumstances if the
    6         surety agrees in writing to pay the costs and expenses
    7         incurred in returning the defendant to the
    8         jurisdiction of the court; providing for calculation
    9         of costs and expenses; providing construction;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11  
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 903.21, Florida
   15  Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         903.21 Method of surrender; exoneration of obligors.—
   17         (3)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “jurisdiction”
   18  means the county from which the defendant was released on bail.
   19         (b) The surety shall be exonerated of liability on the bond
   20  if it is determined before prior to breach of the bond that the
   21  defendant is in any jail or prison and the surety agrees in
   22  writing to pay the costs and expenses incurred in transportation
   23  cost of returning the defendant to the jurisdiction of the
   24  court. Such costs and expenses incurred may not be more than the
   25  prorated salary of the officers or the contracted transportation
   26  company involved and the actual expenses of transporting each
   27  defendant. Such actual expenses of transportation shall only
   28  consist of mileage, vehicle expenses, meals, and, when
   29  necessary, overnight lodging for the officer or contracted
   30  transportation company and the defendant.
   31         (c) A surety agent is responsible only for the costs and
   32  expenses incurred during transport of defendants who are under
   33  his or her fiduciary For purposes of this subsection,
   34  “jurisdiction” means within the judicial circuit as prescribed
   35  by law.
   36         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.