Senate Bill 2386

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO ESTABLISH A FEE TO BE PAID BY THE BAIL AGENT UPON EVERY BAIL BOND WRITTEN IN THIS STATE TO DEFRAY THE COSTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC BONDSMAN REGISTRY AND THE BAIL BOND DATABASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Upon every bail bond written in this state there shall be a fee of one and one-half percent (1.5%) to be paid by the bail agent on the gross premium required by Section 83-39-25. This fee shall be paid to the Department of Insurance and shall be placed into the special fund in the State Treasury designated as the "Insurance Department Fund" to be used to defray the costs associated with the implementation and operation of the Electronic Bondsman Registry and the Bail Bond Database. The term "gross premiums" shall mean the total gross amount of premiums, commissions or fees received on the bail bond. However, the one and one-half percent (1.5%) fee provided for in this section shall not be levied against any bail bond written that is subject to the imposition of the premium tax pursuant to Sections 27-15-103 and 27-15-109.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.