AB 1927: Bail Consumer Protection Act.

Existing law generally regulates the business of insurance in the state, including the conduct of insurance licensees, and provides for the issuance of bail licenses under the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner. Existing regulations generally prohibit the solicitation of bail except after a bona fide request for bail services has been received from the arrestee or from another specified person.

This bill, the Bail Consumer Protection Act, would prohibit a bail agent or impersonator from engaging in unauthorized solicitation of bail to any family member or known contact of an arrested individual for the purpose of engaging the recipient in bail bond services, as specified. The bill would provide that the prohibition does not apply in certain circumstances, including when the communication to a family member or known contact is in response to a voluntary inquiry or bona fide request for bail bond services initiated by that family member or known contact. The bill would prescribe civil penalties, enforceable by the Attorney General or any public prosecutor. The bill would define terms for purposes of the act. make it a misdemeanor for any person to willfully impersonate, or falsely hold themselves out to be, a licensed bail agent, and while doing so solicits or attempts to solicit bail from any individual. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.