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Committee reports out substitute Senate Bill 5,714 to clarify unprofessional conduct for bail-bond agents (9–6)
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5,714, sponsored in part by Senators Trudeau and Torres and heard March 25, would add unprofessional-conduct provisions for bail-bond agents that bar use of their position to assist in enforcing civil immigration warrants and bar disclosure of immigration status to parties outside the bail-bond business. The Consumer
The Consumer Protection & Business Committee voted March 25 to report out Substitute Senate Bill 5,714 with a due-pass recommendation by roll call, 9 ayes to 6 nays.
Representative Reeves moved the motion to report the bill out of committee. Representative Santos urged a yes vote, saying the bill ‘‘tightens up the practice or the occupation of bail bonds persons’’ by clarifying that it is unprofessional conduct to use that role to assist in enforcing civil immigration warrants or to disclose a person’s immigration status outside of authorized contexts. Santos said the statute would protect people who have lawful status from aggressive bounty-hunter behavior.
Representative Corey opposed the bill, citing preemption concerns and questioning whether the Legislature should single out one industry for specific unprofessional-conduct provisions.
Roll-call voting (as recorded at the roll call): Ayes — Wallen; Barry; Donaghy; Fosse; Clobba; Morgan; Reeves; Ryu; Santos (9). Nays — McClintock; Dufo; Abarneau; Corey; Steele; Vols (6). The clerk announced the tally as 9 ayes, 6 nays; the bill was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.
The debate centered on protecting individuals from immigration-status disclosures and preventing bail-bond activity from being repurposed to assist civil immigration enforcement. Opponents highlighted unresolved preemption questions and the fairness of defining ‘‘unprofessional conduct’’ for a single regulated occupation.
Motion details: "I move that substitute Senate Bill 5,714 be reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation," moved by Representative Reeves according to the hearing record; a second was not recorded in the transcript. The committee completed a roll-call vote and reported the bill out.
