This provision defines terms used in the article, including apprentice, board, employee, professional bail company, professional bondsman, professional surety bondsman, professional surety company, and recovery agent.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) APPRENTICE. Any individual working directly for and under the direct supervision of a fully licensed professional bail bondsman, professional surety bondsman, or recovery agent, who is engaged in the bail bond or professional surety business,and who has been granted an apprentice license by the board. (2) BOARD. Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board. (3) EMPLOYEE. a. Any individual who engages in the performance of any of the duties of or for a professional bail company or professional surety company, including, but not limited to, clerical, stenographic, investigative, or administrative duties, or any other work or responsibilities under the contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the employer has the authority or right to control or direct the employee in how the duties, work, or responsibilities are carried out or performed. b. The term includes any individual who has communication or interaction with potential or actual customers and any individual who is working as an apprentice. c. The term does not include any person whose bail bondsman license has been revoked. (4) PROFESSIONAL BAIL COMPANY. A person, individual proprietor, partnership, corporation, or other entity, other than a professional surety company, which furnishes bail or becomes surety for a person on an appearance bond and does so for a valuable consideration. (5) 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. (6) 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. (7) 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. (8) 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.