ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

SHERYL RABIN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 542-3171

Facsimile: (602) 542-7833

TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

DATE: January 26, 2001

SUBJECT: Strike Everything Amendment (related to the same subject) to S.B. 1002 (bail bonds)

Purpose

Authorizes a county sheriff to accept bonds from any person not otherwise prohibited from posting bonds under current law.

Background

According to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), the current law relating to acceptance of bail bonds by sheriffs is not being interpreted uniformly throughout the state. Although most county sheriffs will accept bail bonds from any person, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office interprets current statute to limit the authority of the sheriff to accepting bail bonds only from bail bond agents licensed in Pima County. As a result, the Pima County Clerk of the Court is providing staff to the jail in order to allow other people to post bail during nonbusiness hours.

The same subject strike-everything amendment clarifies the law to authorize county sheriffs to accept the bond of any person. The AOC states that the amendment will make acceptance of bail bonds uniform throughout the state and will save the Pima County Clerk staffing costs.

There is no discernable fiscal impact on the state general fund at this time.

Provisions

1. Authorizes a county sheriff to accept a bond from any person not otherwise prohibited from posting bonds under current law.

2. Provides for a general effective date.

SR/jas