The Florida Senate

648.25  Definitions.--The following words when used in this chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

(1)  "Bail bond agent" means a limited surety agent or a professional bail bond agent as hereafter defined.

(2)  "Department" means the Department of Insurance.

(3)  "Managing general agent" means any individual, partnership, association, or corporation appointed or employed by an insurer to supervise or manage the bail bond business written in this state by limited surety agents appointed by the insurer.

(4)  "Insurer" means any domestic, foreign, or alien surety company which has been authorized to transact surety business in this state.

(5)  "Agency" means any business location at which a licensed and appointed bail bond agent engages in any activity or employs individuals to engage in any activity which by law may be performed only by a licensed and appointed bail bond agent.

(6)  "Limited surety agent" means any individual appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds in connection with judicial proceedings who receives or is promised money or other things of value therefor.

(7)  "Professional bail bond agent" means any person who pledges United States currency, United States postal money orders, or cashier's checks as security for a bail bond in connection with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised therefor money or other things of value.

(8)  "Runner" means a person employed by a bail bond agent, insurer, or managing general agent for the purpose of assisting the bail bond agent in presenting the defendant in court when required or employed by the bail bond agent to assist in the apprehension and surrender of the defendant to the court or keeping the defendant under necessary surveillance. This does not affect the right of a bail bond agent or insurer to hire counsel or to obtain the assistance of law enforcement officers.

(9)  "Temporary bail bond agent" means a person employed by a bail bond agent, insurer, or managing general agent, and such licensee shall have the same authority conferred and authorized by law upon a licensed bail bond agent which shall include presenting defendants in court, apprehending, arresting, and surrendering defendants to the proper authorities, and keeping defendants under necessary surveillance; however, a temporary licensee shall not have the authority to execute or sign bonds, handle collateral receipts, or deliver bonds to appropriate authorities. A temporary licensee may not operate an agency or branch agency separate from the location of the supervising bail bond agent, managing general agent, or insurer by whom the licensee is employed. This does not affect the right of a bail bond agent or insurer to hire counsel or to obtain the assistance of law enforcement officers.

History.--s. 1, ch. 29621, 1955; s. 2, ch. 57-63; s. 6, ch. 65-492; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 177, ch. 70-339; s. 272, ch. 71-377; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 1, 71, 72, ch. 82-175; s. 138, ch. 83-216; ss. 1, 50, 51, ch. 84-103; s. 22, ch. 85-208; s. 5, ch. 87-321; ss. 1, 46, 47, ch. 90-131; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 1, ch. 96-372; s. 28, ch. 96-388.

Note.--Former s. 903.37.