HBA-BSM, SEP H.B. 1848 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1848 By: Keel Criminal Jurisprudence 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous legislation limits the persons who may contract with a bail bond surety to secure the return of a fugitive. Literally interpreted, the language would prohibit a bail bond surety or his employees from securing the appearance of their own clients. House Bill 1848 clarifies the law to authorize sureties and their employees to secure the appearance of a fugitive. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1848 amends the Occupations Code to provide that a person commits a state jail felony if the person contracts with a bail bond surety to secure the appearance of a person who has jumped bail or failed to appear unless the person is a peace officer, is an individual licensed as a private investigator or the manager of a licensed investigations company, is a commissioned security officer employed by a licensed guard company, is a full-time employee of the bail bond surety, or has an ownership interest in the bail bond surety. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.