Title of Regulation: 6VAC20-260. Regulations Relating to Bail Enforcement Agents (amending 6VAC20-260-30, 6VAC20-260-230).

Statutory Authority: §§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: July 15, 2015.

Agency Contact: Lisa D. McGee, Regulatory Manager, Department of Criminal Justice Services, P.O. Box 1300, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-2419, FAX (804) 786-6344, or email lisa.mcgee@dcjs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments conform 6VAC20-260 to changes to the Code of Virginia enacted by Chapter 600 of the 2015 Acts of the Assembly and Chapter 84 of the 2014 Acts of Assembly. The amendments (i) reduce from 30 to 10 calendar days the time within which a bail enforcement agent must report changes to his name, residence, business name, or business address or any final administrative disposition, arrests or summonses issued, or criminal disposition and (ii) replace the acronym GED with "passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education," which affects the eligibility requirements for bail enforcement agents.

Part III
Licensing Procedures and Requirements

6VAC20-260-30. Bail enforcement agent eligibility.

A. Persons required to be licensed pursuant to subdivision 47 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia as a bail enforcement agent shall meet all licensure requirements in this section. Persons who carry or have access to a firearm while on duty must have a valid license with a firearms endorsement as described under 6VAC20-260-80. If carrying a handgun concealed, the person must also (i) have a valid concealed handgun permit pursuant to Article 6.1 (§ 18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia and (ii) the written permission of his employer pursuant to § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Each person applying for a bail enforcement agent license shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:

1. Be a minimum of 21 years of age;

2. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States;

3. Have received a high school diploma or GED passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education; and

4. Have successfully completed all initial training requirements, including firearms endorsement if applicable, requested pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation chapter.

C. The following persons are not eligible for licensure as a bail enforcement agent and may not be employed by or serve as agents for a bail enforcement agent:

1. Persons who have been convicted of a felony within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, who have not been pardoned, or whose civil rights have not been restored.

2. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States within the preceding five years. This prohibition may be waived by the department, for good cause shown, so long as the conviction was not for one of the following or a substantially similar misdemeanor: carrying a concealed weapon, assault and battery, sexual battery, a drug offense, driving under the influence, discharging a firearm, a sex offense, or larceny.

3. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, that is substantially similar to the following: brandishing a firearm or stalking. The department may not waive the prohibitions under this subdivision.

4. Persons currently the subject of a protective order within the Commonwealth or another state.

5. Employees of a local or regional jail.

6. Employees of a sheriff's office or a state or local police department.

7. Commonwealth's attorneys and any employees of their offices.

8. Employees of the Department of Corrections, Department of Criminal Justice Services, or a local pretrial or community-based probation services agency.

D. The exclusions in subsection C of this section shall not be construed to prohibit law enforcement from accompanying a bail enforcement agent when he engages in bail recovery.

Part V
Recordkeeping Standards and Reporting Requirements

6VAC20-260-230. Reporting standards and requirements.

A. Each licensed bail enforcement agent shall (i) report within 30 10 calendar days to the department any change in his residence, name, or business name, or business address, and (ii) ensure that the department has the names and fictitious names of all companies under which he carries out his bail recovery business.

B. Each licensed bail enforcement agent arrested or issued a summons for any crime shall report such fact within 30 10 calendar days to the department and shall report to the department within 30 10 days the facts and circumstances regarding the final disposition of his case.

C. Each licensed bail enforcement agent shall report to the department within 30 10 calendar days of the final disposition any administrative action taken against him by another governmental agency in this the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction. Such report shall include a copy of the order, consent to order, or other relevant legal documents.

D. Each licensed bail enforcement agent shall report to the department within 24 hours any event in which he discharges a firearm during the course of his duties.

E. The bail enforcement agent shall retain, for a minimum of three calendar years from the date of a recovery, copies of all written documentation in connection with the recovery of a bailee pursuant to 6VAC20-260-260.