SB 704 - This act regulates the actions of persons commonly referred to as "bounty hunters". It contains new definitions of "bail fugitive", "bail fugitive recovery agent" and "person". No person may apprehend and return to custody a bail fugitive unless that person is a law enforcement officer or a licensed private investigator.

A bail bond agent shall be certified as a bail fugitive recovery agent upon application to the Director of the Department of Insurance and completion of a training course. Requirements for the training course are listed, and include courses in legal issues as well as use of firearms and first aid.

A bail bond agent may contract as a bounty hunter ("bail fugitive recovery apprehension" in the bill) only with a licensed private investigator or a licensed bail fugitive recovery agent. No person may become a bail bond agent as of the effective date of this act without first becoming certified as a bail fugitive recovery agent; however, existing bail bond agents are exempted from this requirement. Operating as a bail fugitive recovery agent without proper certification shall be a felony, punishable by a term of not less than two years or a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars, or any combination of the two.

JOAN GUMMELS