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Bill 1166

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1166
Ratification Number:              377
Act Number:                       358
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000222
Primary Sponsor:                  Alexander
All Sponsors:                     Alexander
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\ggs\22496cm00.doc
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:     20000526
Governor's Action:                S
Date of Governor's Action:        20000606
Subject:                          Courts, Bail; Professional or surety 
                                  bondsman or runner; continuing education 
                                  requirements, certain exemptions


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
------  20000711  Act No. A358
------  20000606  Signed by Governor
------  20000531  Ratified R377
House   20000526  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
House   20000525  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   20000524  Committee report: Favorable            26 HLCI
House   20000411  Introduced, read first time,           26 HLCI
                  referred to Committee
Senate  20000406  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  20000328  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  20000323  Committee report: Favorable            02 SBI
Senate  20000222  Introduced, read first time,           02 SBI
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill
Revised on March 23, 2000 - Word format
Revised on May 24, 2000 - Word format

(A358, R377, S1166)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 38-53-85, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET AND THE EXAMINATION THAT MUST BE COMPLETED BY AN APPLICANT TO BECOME A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN, SURETY BONDSMAN, OR RUNNER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN, SURETY BONDSMAN, OR RUNNER WHO IS MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS OF AGE AND WHO HAS AT LEAST TWENTY YEARS OF LICENSURE IS EXEMPT FROM THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS PROVISION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Licensed professional bondsman, surety bondsman, and runner

SECTION 1. Section 38-53-85 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 425 of 1998, is amended to read:

"Section 38-53-85. (A) An applicant for a license to work as a professional bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner must complete not less than twenty hours of education in subjects pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of a professional and surety bondsman or runner, including all laws and regulations related to being a professional or surety bondsman or runner. A written examination must be administered at the conclusion of the course work. Each applicant must pass the examination before he can be licensed.

Each person licensed as a professional bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner must complete annually not less than six hours of continuing education in subjects related to the duties and responsibilities of a professional and surety bondsman or runner before his license shall be renewed. The continuing education courses shall not include a written or oral examination. The six-hour annual requirement is in addition to the twenty-four hour continuing education requirement for surety insurance agents as required by Section 38-43-106.

(B) A person licensed as a professional bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner before the effective date of this section is not required to complete the requisite twenty hours of education but must complete six hours of continuing education courses in order to have his license renewed.

(C) The South Carolina Bail Agent's Association or any other group or association approved by the Department of Insurance to provide educational courses to bondsmen must establish an educational curriculum for bondsman licensure. The Department of Insurance must approve the courses offered and ensure that the courses meet the standards for education established by this section and the department. The requirement of course work for licensure is not satisfied by a mail order course. The department must also approve a written examination to be administered by all groups who provide educational courses to be administered at the conclusion of the twenty-hour course work.

(D) A person who falsely represents that he has met the educational requirements of this section is subject, after being afforded notice and an opportunity for a due process hearing by the Administrative Law Judge Division, to the penalty provided for in Section 38-53-340.

(E) A professional bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner who is more than sixty years of age and who has at least twenty years of licensure is exempt from the continuing education requirements contained in this section.

(F) The director shall establish rules and regulations for the effective administration of this section."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 31st day of May, 2000.

Approved the 6th day of June, 2000.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:10 A.M.