AI-assisted research summary: This section defines several bail-bonding terms, including the board, professional bail company, bondsman, surety bondsman, surety company, and recovery agent.
AMENDED BY ACT 2026-542, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) BOARD. Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board. (2) PROFESSIONAL BAIL COMPANY. A person, individual proprietor, partnership corporation, or other entity, other than a professional surety company, that furnishes bail or becomes surety for a person on an appearance bond and does so for a valuable consideration. (3) PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN. Any individual or agent who is employed by a professional bail company or professional surety company to solicit and execute appearance bonds or actively seek bail bond business for or on behalf of a professional bail company, including any individual who has a direct or indirect ownership interest in a professional bail company. (4) PROFESSIONAL SURETY BONDSMAN. Any individual who is employed by a professional surety company to solicit and execute appearance bonds or actively seek bail bond business for or on behalf of a professional surety company, including any individual who has a direct or indirect ownership interest in a professional surety company. (5) PROFESSIONAL SURETY COMPANY. An insurance company, domestic or foreign corporation, or association engaged in the business of insurance, or a surety with a bail line of insurance to which has been issued a certificate of authority or certificate of compliance by the Department of Insurance to execute appearance bonds or bail bonds in criminal cases in the state. (6) RECOVERY AGENT. Any individual, other than an attorney or law enforcement officer, utilized by a professional surety company, professional bail company, or professional bondsman to apprehend a defendant who was released on bail and who violated the terms of his or her bail.