BIL:1166

RTN:377

ACN:358

TYP:General Bill GB

INB:Senate

IND:20000222

PSP:Alexander

SPO:Alexander

DDN:l:\council\bills\ggs\22496cm00.doc

DPB:20000526

GOV:S

DGA:20000606

SUB:Courts, Bail; Professional or surety bondsman or runner; continuing education requirements, certain exemptions

HST:

BodyDateAction DescriptionComLeg Involved

______

------20000711Act No. A358

------20000606Signed by Governor

------20000531Ratified R377

House20000526Read third time, enrolled for

ratification

House20000525Read second time, unanimous consent

for third reading on the next

Legislative day

House20000524Committee report: Favorable26 HLCI

House20000411Introduced, read first time,26 HLCI

referred to Committee

Senate20000406Read third time, sent to House

Senate20000328Read second time, notice of

general amendments

Senate20000323Committee report: Favorable02 SBI

Senate20000222Introduced, read first time,02 SBI

referred to Committee

Versions of This Bill

Revised on 20000323

Revised on 20000524

TXT:

(A358, R377, S1166)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 385385, 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

SECTION1.Section 385385 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 425 of 1998, is amended to read:

“Section 385385.(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 sixhour annual requirement is in addition to the twentyfour hour continuing education requirement for surety insurance agents as required by Section 3843106.

(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 twentyhour 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 3853340.

(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

SECTION2.This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 31st day of May, 2000.

Approved the 6th day of June, 2000.

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