Call to Action No 1- SB 1151 by Whitmire

 

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 8:3O am. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will hold a hearing on SB 1151 by Whitmire. The bill seeks to regulate for the first time what bondsmen charge in Texas. This bill grew out of Harris County when local officials sought to blame bondsmen as the cause of increasing crime on the grounds that bondsmen work with families; instead of placing the blame on judges who refuse to do their job.

Right befofe the primary last year, the Harris County Bail Bond Board enacted a local rule that required bondsmen to collected 10% of the face amount of the bond for a host of charges. This local rule is the subject of pending litigation and is before the one of the Houston Court of Appeals. We anticipate a ruling in the next 30 to 60 days. Since the enactment of the local rule, the Sheriff of Harris County has requested additional funding of $28 million for what he referred to as "unsustainable" jail overcrowding. Also, the Harris County Jail is now out of compliance with state jail standards.

In the meantime, Senator Whitmire and Representative Ann Johnson have filed bills to require all bondsmen to collect 10% of the face amount of any bond before it is posted seeking to bring the Harris County idea of criminal justice to the entire state.

There are several ways you can get involved. If you are able come to Austin, Texas on Tuesday morning to file out cards opposing SB 1151. This small act can make a big difference. You will not be asked to testify before the committee. We are coordinating the issues that we want to raise and anticipate that our issues will be presented fully.

Additionally, we have initiated an email campaign to the members of the committee. We anticipate that we will have 2-3 email campaigns from now until Tuesday. If you would like to join the fight go to the following site to send the 1st email of our coming campaign series. Campaign message 1 can be found by CLICKING HERE. Feel free to share this email with your fellow bondsmen, family, friends and employees.

The message is as follows:

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Dear Senator {LegislatorLastName},

This happened in the last two weeks-

Julian Vela had already missed court and had his bond forfeitued once when he was bonded out of jail by a local bondsmen on a payment plan. At the time, he was in jail in Washington County on a warrant issued by Ellis County. Julian also missed his next court date because, unbeknowst to his local bondsman, he could not get a ride to court.

After a warrant was issued, his bondsmen met him at 4:00 am and drove him from Washington County, Texas to Ellis County so that he could appear before the judge to address his case and the failure to appear. Initially, the plan was for the defendant to plead, but when they arrived it was determined that this would not be in his best interest because he had another pending case in a different county.  

The bondsmen, the State and the defendant met with the judge and the trial court agreed to reinstated the bond if the bondsman was willing to stay on the bond. Also, the case was re-set.  

The bondsman did this because it was in his defendant’s best interest. SB 1151 ties the hands of bondsmen and prevents them from doing their jobs.  

Please vote against SB 1151.

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If you have not participated in the 1st email campaign and would like to do so by CLICKING HERE. 

If you would like more information visit our blog by CLICKING HERE.  

Thank you so much for your willingness to assist in getting our messaging out so that we can continue to fight for our industry.