                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS OF DEPARTMENT AND BOARD RELATING TO BAIL ENFORCEMENT AGENTS (§
9.1-186.2)

A. The Board shall have full regulatory authority and oversight of bail
enforcement agents.

B. The Board shall adopt regulations establishing compulsory minimum,
entry-level and in-service training and education for bail enforcement agents.
The regulations may include provisions allowing the Department to inspect the
facilities and programs of persons conducting training to ensure compliance with
the law and regulations. In establishing compulsory training standards for bail
enforcement agents, the Board shall ensure the public safety and welfare against
incompetent or unqualified persons engaging in the activities regulated by this
article. The regulations may provide for exemption from training of persons
having previous employment as law-enforcement officers for a local, state or the
federal government. However, no such exemption shall be granted for any person
whose employment as a law-enforcement officer was terminated because of his
misconduct or incompetence. The regulations may include provisions for partial
exemption from such training for persons having previous training that meets or
exceeds the minimum training standards and has been approved by the Department.

C. The Board shall adopt regulations that are necessary to ensure respectable,
responsible, safe and effective bail enforcement within the Commonwealth and
shall include but not be limited to regulations that: (i) establish
qualifications of applicants for licensure and renewal under this article; (ii)
examine, or cause to be examined, the qualifications of each applicant for
licensure, including when necessary the preparation, administration, and grading
of examinations; (iii) levy and collect nonrefundable fees for licensure and
renewal that are sufficient to cover all expenses for administration and
operation of a program of licensure; (iv) ensure continued competency and
prevent deceptive or misleading practices by practitioners; (v) administer the
regulatory system; (vi) provide for receipt of complaints concerning the conduct
of any person whose activities are regulated by the Board; (vii) provide for
investigations, and appropriate disciplinary action if warranted; (viii)
establish professional conduct standards, firearms training and usage standards,
uniform and identification standards, reporting standards, and standards for the
recovery and capture of bailees; (ix) allow the Board to revoke, suspend or
refuse to renew a license for just cause; and (x) establish an introductory
training curriculum which includes search, seizure and arrest procedure,
pursuit, arrest, detainment and transportation of a bailee, specific duties and
responsibilities regarding entering an occupied structure, the laws and rules
relating to the bail bond business, the rights of the accused, ethics and
Virginia law and regulation. The Board shall adopt annual compulsory, minimum,
firearms training standards for bail enforcement agents. In adopting its
regulations, the Board shall seek the advice of the Private Security Services
Advisory Board established pursuant to &#xA7; 9.1-143.

HISTORY: 2004, c. 397.