Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governmental Affairs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves bill to expand exception for bail bondsmen holding local office with limits
Summary
The House Governmental Affairs full committee approved Senate Bill 16 to expand an existing exception that allows bail bondsmen to serve on school boards so they may also hold seats as county commissioners and city council members in certain circumstances, with a restriction that they cannot issue bonds in the jurisdiction where they serve.
Senator Matt Brass presented Senate Bill 16 to the House Governmental Affairs full committee, saying the measure would add county commissioners and city council members to an existing exception that currently allows bail bondsmen to serve on school boards. "So current law does not allow for a bail bondsman to become an elected official with 1 exception, and that 1 exception is for school board," Sen. Matt Brass said, describing a local case in Heard County where a newly elected official who ran a bail bonds business was prevented from being sworn in because of the existing prohibition.
Brass told the committee the bill includes a geographic limitation: a candidate who issues bail bonds would be barred from holding office only if they issue bonds in the same jurisdiction or county where they seek to serve. "...I've added county commissioner and city council in any kind of consolidated government with the caveat that you cannot issue bail bonds in that jurisdiction or within that county," he said. He framed the proposal as targeted to smaller rural counties, noting the Heard County seat referenced in his remarks serves a community of about 12,000 people.
Committee members asked for clarification and offered support. Chairman Leverett recounted having seen the issue as a city attorney and said it "doesn't make sense" that a person would be barred from running for office in a municipality where they are not a bondsman. Another committee member asked that the bill be passed and the committee moved to action. The committee took a voice vote; the chair said there was one noted opposition but the bill passed and will be eligible for consideration by the rules committee.
The transcript reflects that representative David Huddleston will carry the measure on the House floor. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript segment provided.
The bill leaves in place ethical and conflict-of-interest rules that committee members said would still apply to elected officials who have other business relationships with law enforcement.
The committee advanced the bill to the rules committee for further processing.
