CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE NEW BAIL AGENT LICENSE PERIODS?

As you may know, Assembly Bill 2782 (the Insurance Omnibus Bill) became law on January 1, 2011 and changed the periods for bail agent licenses. From the number of calls we’ve already received, it is clear that implementation of the new law is confusing and may not have been well explained by the Department of Insurance. CDI is still trying to modify its computer systems to implement the changes, so you might expect some delays in getting their systems straightened out.

Among other insurance issues, AB2782 changed the license period for bail agent licenses from one to two years. But, its implementation is a little more complex than it might appear. It is best explained by considering that there are two categories of licensed agents – those who held valid licenses as of January 1, 2011 and those who obtain their license after January 1, 2011.

Agents Holding Valid Licenses On January 1, 2011
If you held a valid bail agent license on January 1, 2011, your current license expired at Midnight on June 30, 2011. If you completed six (6) hours of continuing education and paid your renewal fees prior to June 30, 2011, your new license will be valid for two years, expiring on June 30, 2013. If you keep it renewed regularly it will expire on June 30 of each odd-numbered year into the future.

Starting July 1, 2011, you will be required to completed twelve (12) hours of continuing education every two years to meet the continuing education requirement for renewing your license. While CDI “encourages” you to complete six hours of CE every year, you can complete your twelve hours any time in that two year period.

Agents Obtaining A New License After January 1, 2011
If you obtain your new bail agent license on or after January 1, 2011, your license will be valid for two years and will expire on the last day of the month in which your license was issued. For example, if your license was issued on May 5, 2011, your license will expire on May 31, 2013. In another example, if you obtained your new license on March 3, 2012, your license will expire on March 30, 2014.

When you get your first bail license, you will be required to complete only six (6) hours of continuing education and pay the renewal fees to renew your license for the next two year period. From then on like everyone else you will have to complete twelve (12) hours of continuing education before your license expiration date to meet the CE requirements for license renewal for the coming two year period. In other words, after receiving your first new bail agent license, for only your very first two year license period you will have to complete only six (6) hours of CE. Then, like everyone else, you will need to complete twelve (12) hours of CE every two years.

In Summary
Yes, it is confusing but CDI shunned input from the bail community during the writing of this bill and this is exactly how they wanted the new law to read. Attached is a document from CDI explaining the new license periods as well as a document we received from CDI when we asked about the requirements for first time license renewals.

If you have any questions, you can contact CDI’s licensing bureau at 916-492-3035. If you are unable to obtain help there, please call us and we will contact CDI staff directly on your behalf.

Thanks,

BailCE.com