Bail bond agent in charge; duties.

(1) The owner or operator of a bail bond agency shall designate a bail bond agent in charge for each location, and shall file with the department the name and license number of the person and the address of the location on a form approved by the department. The designation of the bail bond agent in charge may be changed if the department is notified immediately. Failure to notify the department within 10 working days after such change is grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to s. 648.45.

(2) The bail bond agent in charge is responsible for the overall operation and management of a bail bond agency location, whose responsibilities may include, without limitations, hiring and supervising of all individuals within the location, whether they deal with the public in the solicitation or negotiation of bail bond contracts or in the collection or accounting of moneys. A person may be designated as the bail bond agent in charge for only one agency and location.

(3) The department may suspend or revoke the license of the owner, bail bond agent in charge, and bail bond agency if the bail bond agency employs, contracts with, or uses the services of a person who has had a license denied or whose license is currently suspended or revoked. However, a person who has been denied a license for failure to pass a required examination may be employed to perform clerical or administrative functions for which licensure is not required.

(4) An owner, a bail bond agent in charge, or a bail bond agency may not employ, contract with, or use the services of any person in a bail bond agency who has been charged with, found guilty of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of any jurisdiction, without regard to whether judgment was entered or withheld by the court.

(5) A bail bond agency location may not conduct surety business unless a bail bond agent in charge is designated by, and provides services to, the bail bond agency at all times. If the bail bond agent in charge designated with the department ends his or her affiliation with the bail bond agency for any reason and if the bail bond agency fails to designate another bail bond agent in charge within the 10-day period under subsection (1) and such failure continues for 90 days, the bail bond agency license automatically expires on the 91st day after the date the designated bail bond agent in charge ended his or her affiliation with the agency.