Licensing Requirements for Agents

• Ohio’s statutes currently do not regulate the licensing of bail agents nor do they explicitly give agents arrest authority, though such may be implied, however, and is also provided for by case law (see section #7). Legislation is currently pending (H730), which provides lengthy and detailed regulation of “surety bail bond agents” and also explicitly grants such arrest authority. Due to the size of this legislation, only a reference to the bill itself and a few short provisions are given below. In addition, the closest statute to licensing requirement in the current statutes is also given.
• Sec. 3905.85. (a) an applicant for a license as a surety bail bond agent shall submit an application for the license in a manner prescribed by the superintendent of insurance. The application shall be accompanied by a one hundred fifty dollar fee and a statement that gives the applicant’s name, age, residence, present occupation, occupation for the five years next preceding the date of the application, and such other information as the superintendent may require.
• The applicant shall also request a criminal records check conducted by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the revised code, and direct that the bureau’s written response to that request be transmitted to the superintendent of insurance, or to the superintendent’s designee, as specified on the form prescribed pursuant to that section. If the superintendent of insurance or the superintendent’s designee fails to receive the bureau’s response to the applicant’s request for a criminal records check, the superintendent may refuse to issue a license under this section. the applicant shall pay any fee required by the bureau for conducting the criminal records check.
• An applicant for a license shall submit to an examination as to the qualifications set forth in division (b) of this section.

 

Filed Rates  (Premium must be charged in accordance with the filed rates for this state.)

Statutory Rates (Premium must be charged in accordance with PSC -S3GA filed rates for this state.)

Premium Rate:  12%

Minimum Premium:  $60

Federal Rate:  12%

Department of Insurance

Collateral - Mortgage Form
State Surrender Time - 180 Days
Remission – Not Applicable

State Fees Per Bond - 2% of Liability of bond (must be added to price quote)
Sheriff's Fee: $30 per bond