Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 17 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESSES (§§ 17-1-101 — 17-107-311) › Subtitle 2 - NONMEDICAL PROFESSIONS (§§ 17-10-101 — 17-56-202) › Chapter 19 - BAIL BONDSMEN (§§ 17-19-101 — 17-19-403) › Subchapter 3 - BOND REQUIREMENTS - POSTING OF BONDSMEN LIST (§§ 17-19-301 — 17-19-306) › Section 17-19-301 - Premiums

(a)
(1)
Except as provided in this section, the premium or compensation for giving bond or depositing money or property as bail on any bond shall be ten percent (10%), except that the amount may be rounded up to the nearest five-dollar amount.
(2)
(A)
The premium or compensation under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall be deposited in full prior to release.
(B)
In no event shall all or a portion of the premium or compensation under subdivision (a)(1) of this section be deposited after release.
(3)
If property is deposited as bail to meet the premium or compensation under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, appropriate documentation shall be submitted to the court verifying:
(A)
The value of the property deposited as bail; and
(B)
That title to the property has been transferred to the surety.
(b)
The minimum compensation for giving bond or depositing money or property as bail on any bond shall be not less than fifty dollars ($50.00).
(c)
If a bail bond or appearance bond issued by a licensee under this chapter must be replaced with another bail bond or appearance bond because of the licensee's violation of any provision of the laws of this state or any rule or order of the Professional Bail Bond Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board, the licensee who violated the provision and who caused the replacement to be required shall pay all the premium amount for the replacement bond, in an amount not to exceed the amount of the original bond, without any contribution from the respective defendant or principal.
(d)
(1)
(A)
In addition to the ten-percent bail or appearance bond premium or compensation allowed in subsection (a) of this section, and starting on July 1, 2013, each licensed professional bail bond company, sheriff, or keeper of the jail shall charge and collect as a nonrefundable administrative and regulatory fee for the board an additional ten dollars ($10.00) per bond fee for giving bond for every bail and appearance bond issued by the licensed professional bail bond company by or through its individual licensees, sheriffs, or keepers of the jail.
(B)
The administrative and regulatory fees payable by these companies to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund for the support and operation of the board, and collected by the bail bond companies, sheriffs, or keepers of the jail as required by this section, shall be reported and filed with the board no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, contemporaneous with the professional bail bond company's filing of its quarterly bail bond report with the board.
(C)
A notarized annual reconciliation of all fees collected in the preceding calendar year for the Bail Bondsman Board Fund shall be filed by each licensed professional bail bond company at a time and on forms prescribed by the board.
(D)
The Executive Director of the Professional Bail Bond Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board may grant an extension for good cause shown upon timely written request.
(E)
The administrative and regulatory fees payable by the bail bond companies, sheriffs, or keepers of the jail to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund shall not exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per bond, as required by this subchapter, exclusive of statutory licensure fees elsewhere in this chapter.
(F)
Upon collection of the fees and any monetary penalties, the board shall deposit as special revenues:
(i)
Sufficient fees and penalties directly into the Bail Bondsman Board Fund to provide for the personal services and operating expenses of the board under subsection (g) of this section; and
(ii)
The remainder of all fees and penalties directly into the Domestic Peace Fund administered by the Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission.
(2)
(A)
Absent an extension granted by the executive director for good cause to a company and in addition to any license suspension or revocation, the executive director may order after notice and a hearing a professional bail bond company failing timely to report or pay the regulatory fee to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund by and through the executive director shall be liable to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund for a monetary penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day of delinquency.
(B)
The board may pursue any appropriate legal remedies on behalf of the Bail Bondsman Board Fund to collect any delinquent fees and penalties owed under this section as special revenues to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund.
(3)
Upon collection of the regulatory fees and any monetary penalties payable to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund and assessed under this section, the executive director shall deposit all fees and penalties directly into the Bail Bondsman Board Fund as special revenues.
(4)
(A)
Upon failure of the bail bond company to remit the fees timely, the board may pursue civil legal remedies against the noncomplying bail bond company on behalf of the Bail Bondsman Board Fund to recover the balance of the fees and any penalties owed.
(B)
(i)
The board may also fine or suspend or revoke the license of any professional bail bond company failing to make a quarterly report or remit or pay timely the fees required by this section.
(ii)
The board may promulgate rules for enforcement.
(5)
(A)
Other than sole proprietors licensed as professional bail bond companies, individual bail bondsmen are exempt from the duty of payment of the administrative and regulatory fees to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund, except that the individual licenses of individual employees of the professional bail bond company may be suspended or revoked by the board under the administrative procedures provided in this chapter if the individual licensee fails to comply with his or her duties in proper collection of the bail bond premiums earmarked for later payment to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund under this subsection, if he or she converts the moneys to his or her own use, or if he or she commits other infractions in regard to collection of such premium amounts.
(B)
In those instances, the violations of the individual may in the board's discretion be attributed to the employing professional bail bond company for good cause shown, and the license of the employing professional bail bond company may be sanctioned by the executive director under the administrative procedures provided in this chapter.
(C)
Further, upon criminal conviction of the individual bondsman for theft of property in connection with fraudulent conversion of those premium amounts due the Bail Bondsman Board Fund, the board shall revoke the individual's license and fine or suspend or revoke the license of the employing professional bail bond company if it assisted the individual in such fraudulent conduct.
(6)
(A)
For purposes of §
17-19-205
requiring the professional bail bond company's deposit of a letter of credit or certificate of deposit for the faithful performance of its duties, the company's payment of the administrative and regulatory fee required by this subsection is the duty of the licensee so as to allow the executive director to make a claim against the security deposit required in §
17-19-205
on behalf of the Bail Bondsman Board Fund for the balance of any owed and unpaid administrative and regulatory fees the professional bail bond company still owes to the Bail Bondsman Board Fund, and the executive director shall promptly make claims against security deposits on behalf of the Bail Bondsman Board Fund, up to the limit of the company's deposit for any remaining fee balance due, in the manner provided in this subchapter for any claim against the deposit required in this subchapter.
(B)
Deposits held for the Bail Bondsman Board Fund, or fees or any moneys deposited into the Bail Bondsman Board Fund are not subject to any levy or assessment of any kind, including forfeiture claims, misconduct claims, or general creditor claims of the bail bond company, subject to garnishment or other creditors' remedies under Title 16 of this Code or other provisions of Arkansas law.
(e)
(1)
In addition to the premiums, compensation, and fees allowed in subsections (a) and (d) of this section, each sheriff, keeper of the jail, or bail bond company shall charge and collect twenty dollars ($20.00) as a nonrefundable fee for the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.
(2)
All fees collected shall be forwarded to the board for deposit into the Public Defender User Fee Fund.
(3)
(A)
The Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall deposit the money collected into the existing account within the State Central Services Fund entitled "Public Defender User Fees".
(B)
(i)
Three dollars ($3.00) of each fee collected under this section shall be remitted to each county in the state to defray the operating expenses of each county's public defender office.
(ii)
The Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall remit quarterly to each county treasurer the county's portion of the fee collected under this section using the formula for the County Aid Fund under §
19-5-602
.
(4)
The fees collected by the bail bond companies required under this subsection shall be reported and filed with the Arkansas Public Defender Commission quarterly.
(5)
A notarized annual reconciliation of all fees collected in the preceding calendar year shall be filed by each bail bond company by February 15 on forms provided by the board.
(6)
In addition to the bail or appearance bond premium or compensation allowed under this section and §
17-19-111
, each licensed professional bail bond company, sheriff, or keeper of the jail shall charge and collect a processing fee of five dollars ($5.00) on each bail bond in order to defray the surety's costs incurred by the quarterly and annual reports to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission and to further defray the surety's costs incurred in the collection of all fees on behalf of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.
(7)
The board may pursue any appropriate legal remedy for the collection of any delinquent fees owed under this subsection.
(8)
Upon collection of any fees and penalties, the board shall forward all fees and penalties to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission for deposit into the Public Defender User Fees Fund account within the State Central Services Fund.
(f)
(1)
In addition to the premiums, compensation, and fees allowed under this chapter, each professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
shall charge and collect as a nonrefundable administrative bail bond fee for the Arkansas Counties Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Crime Prevention Program Fund an additional fee of six dollars ($6.00) per bail bond for giving bond for every bail bond issued by the professional bail bond company by or through its individual licensees, sheriffs, keepers of the jail, or any persons authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
.
(2)
The fees and penalties collected under this subsection by a professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or a person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
shall be forwarded to the board for deposit into the Arkansas Counties Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Crime Prevention Program Fund.
(3)
The board shall deposit the money collected into the existing account within the Arkansas Counties Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Crime Prevention Program Fund to be used for the establishment and operation of alcohol abuse programs, drug abuse programs, crime prevention programs, and other related purposes in the counties.
(4)
The fees required under this subsection and collected by the bail bond companies, sheriffs, keepers of the jail, or persons authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
shall be reported quarterly and filed with the board.
(5)
(A)
Within fifteen (15) days after receiving the quarterly fees from the bail bond companies, sheriffs, keepers of the jail, or persons authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
, the board shall remit the fees collected under this subsection to the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association.
(B)
The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association is the official organization of sheriffs in this state and is organized and exists under the Arkansas Nonprofit Corporation Act, §§
4-28-201
-
4-28-206
and §§
4-28-209
-
4-28-224
.
(6)
A notarized annual reconciliation of all fees collected in the preceding calendar year shall be filed on forms provided by the board by each professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
by February 15.
(7)
The Department of Finance and Administration may pursue any appropriate legal remedy for the collection of delinquent fees and penalties owed under this subsection against an entity that has a duty to collect the fee under this subsection.
(8)
The board shall promulgate rules to suspend, revoke, or take disciplinary action for noncompliance in failure to remit or pay fees under this section or in failure to report under this section.
(g)
(1)
(A)
In addition to the premiums and fees allowed under this chapter, each professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
shall charge and collect an additional fee of four dollars ($4.00) per bail bond for every bail bond issued by the professional bail bond company by or through its individual licensees, sheriffs, keepers of the jail, or any persons authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
.
(B)
The administrative bail bond fee is nonrefundable and shall be deposited into the Bail Bond Recovery Fund.
(2)
The fees and penalties collected under this subsection by the professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or a person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
shall be forwarded to the board for deposit into the Bail Bond Recovery Fund.
(3)
(A)
The board shall deposit the money collected into the existing account within the Bail Bond Recovery Fund.
(B)
Use of the funds from the Bail Bond Recovery Fund shall be for professional bail bond forfeitures.
(4)
The fees collected by the bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or a person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
required under this subsection shall be reported quarterly and filed with the board.
(5)
A notarized annual reconciliation of all fees collected in the preceding calendar year shall be filed on forms provided by the board by each professional bail bond company, sheriff, keeper of the jail, or person authorized to take bail under §
16-84-102
by February 15.
(6)
The board may pursue any appropriate legal remedy for the collection of delinquent fees and penalties owed under this subsection against an entity that has a duty under this subsection to collect the fee.
(7)
The board shall promulgate rules to suspend, revoke, or take disciplinary action for noncompliance in failure to remit or pay fees under this section or for failure to report under this section.
(h)
A sheriff, keeper of the jail, and any bail bond company shall collect fees as required under §§
14-52-111
,
17-19-111
,
17-19-301
, and
21-6-307
and other fees as required by law.
(i)
(1)
Unless specified otherwise under subsection (e) of this section, the moneys collected by each bail bond company under subsection (e) of this section shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the Public Defender User Fees Fund within the State Central Services Fund.
(2)
(A)
Of the fee collected by each licensed professional bail bond company, three dollars ($3.00) shall be transferred to the various counties for the sole purpose of defraying the operating expenses of the local public defender's office.
(B)
The remaining moneys collected shall be used to defray operating expenses of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.
(3)
On a quarterly basis, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall remit to each county its portion of the three dollars ($3.00) per bail bond fee collected based upon the following formula:
(A)
Seventy five percent (75%) of the bail bond fee collected shall be distributed equally to all seventy-five (75) counties; and
(B)
The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the bail bond fee collected shall be distributed per capita.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 659,§ 238, eff. 1/1/2024.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1365, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 871,§ 18, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1283,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1283,§ 2, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1989, No. 417, § 1; 1993, No. 652, § 6; 1995, No. 827, § 6; 1997, No. 1000, §§ 12-14; 2003, No. 1778, § 1; 2005, No. 1956, § 1; 2007, No. 190, § 1; 2007, No. 730, §§ 2, 3.