Part III. Licensing Procedures and Requirements
6VAC20-260-30. Bail enforcement agent eligibility.
A. Persons required to be licensed pursuant to subdivision 47 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia as a bail enforcement agent shall meet all licensure requirements in this section. Persons who carry or have access to a firearm while on duty must have a valid license with a firearms endorsement as described under 6VAC20-260-80. If carrying a handgun concealed, the person must also (i) have a valid concealed handgun permit pursuant to Article 6.1 (§ 18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia and (ii) the written permission of his employer.
B. Each person applying for a bail enforcement agent license shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:
1. Be a minimum of 21 years of age;
2. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States;
3. Have received a high school diploma or passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education; and
4. Have successfully completed all initial training requirements, including firearms endorsement if applicable, requested pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards in Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this chapter.
C. The following persons are not eligible for licensure as a bail enforcement agent and may not be employed by or serve as agents for a bail enforcement agent:
1. Persons who have been convicted of a felony within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, who have not been pardoned or whose civil rights have not been restored.
2. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States within the preceding five years. This prohibition may be waived by the department, for good cause shown, so long as the conviction was not for one of the following or a substantially similar misdemeanor: carrying a concealed weapon, assault and battery, sexual battery, a drug offense, driving under the influence, discharging a firearm, a sex offense, or larceny.
3. Persons who have been convicted of any misdemeanor within the Commonwealth, any other state, or the United States, that is substantially similar to the following: brandishing a firearm or stalking. The department may not waive the prohibitions under this subdivision.
4. Persons currently the subject of a protective order within the Commonwealth or another state.
5. Employees of a local or regional jail.
6. Employees of a sheriff's office or a state or local police department.
7. Commonwealth's attorneys and any employees of their offices.
8. Employees of the Department of Corrections, Department of Criminal Justice Services, or a local pretrial or community-based probation services agency.
D. The exclusions in subsection C of this section shall not be construed to prohibit law enforcement from accompanying a bail enforcement agent when he engages in bail recovery.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 21, eff. July 15, 2015.
6VAC20-260-40. Initial bail enforcement agent license application.
Prior to the issuance of any bail enforcement agent license, each agent applicant shall:
1. File with the department a completed application for such license on the form and in the manner provided by the department;
2. Provide the address of a physical location in Virginia where records required to be maintained pursuant to 6VAC20-260-230 are kept and available for inspection by the department. A post office box is not a physical location;
3. Successfully complete entry-level training, and firearms training if applicable, pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth under Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation;
4. Submit fingerprints to the department pursuant to 6VAC20-260-50; and
5. Submit the appropriate nonrefundable application processing fee to the department.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-50. Fingerprint processing.
A. Each person applying for licensure as a bail enforcement agent shall submit to the department:
1. One completed fingerprint card provided by the department or another electronic method approved by the department;
2. A fingerprint processing application;
3. The applicable nonrefundable fee; and
4. All criminal history conviction information on a form provided by the department.
B. The department shall submit those fingerprints to the Virginia State Police for the purpose of conducting a Virginia Criminal History Records search and a National Criminal Records search to determine whether the person or persons has a record of conviction.
C. Fingerprint cards found to be unclassifiable will suspend action on the application pending the resubmittal of a classifiable fingerprint card. The applicant shall be so notified in writing and shall submit a new fingerprint card within 30 days before the processing of his application shall resume. After 30 days, the initial fingerprint application process will be required to include applicable application fees.
D. If the applicant is denied by DCJS, the department will notify the applicant by letter regarding the reasons for the denial.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-60. Application sanctions/denial, probation, suspension and revocation.
A. The department may deny a license in which any person has been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this regulation. The record of a conviction, authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted, shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction.
B. The department may deny a license in which any person (i) has not maintained good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed; (ii) has had his license denied upon initial application, suspended, revoked, surrendered, or not renewed; or (iii) has otherwise been disciplined in connection with a disciplinary action prior to applying for licensing in Virginia.
C. Any false or misleading statement on any state application or supporting documentation is grounds for denial or revocation and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
D. The department may deny licensure to a person for other just cause.
E. A licensee shall be subject to disciplinary action for violations or noncompliance with the Code of Virginia or this regulation. Disciplinary action shall be in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Administrative Process Act. The disciplinary action may include but is not limited to a letter of censure, fine, probation, suspension or revocation.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-70. License issuance.
A. Upon completion of the initial license application requirements, the department may issue an initial license for a period not to exceed 24 months.
B. Each license shall be issued to the applicant named on the application and shall be valid only for the person named on the license. No license shall be assigned or otherwise transferred to another person.
C. Each licensee shall comply with all applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct and shall not engage in any acts prohibited by applicable sections of the Code of Virginia and this regulation.
D. At the discretion of the department, a temporary license may be issued for a 30-day period while awaiting the results of the applicant's criminal history records search based on extenuating circumstances.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-80. Firearms endorsement.
A. In addition to applying for a bail enforcement agent license, each applicant who carries or has access to a firearm while on duty must apply for such endorsement on a form and in the manner prescribed by the board and containing any information the board requires.
B. Prior to the issuance of a firearms endorsement, each applicant shall:
1. Successfully complete the entry-level firearms training pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards as set forth in Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation; and
2. Submit the appropriate nonrefundable application processing fee to the department.
C. Upon completion of the application requirements, the department may issue a firearms endorsement for a period not to exceed 12 months.
D. Firearms endorsements may be reissued for a period not to exceed a period of 12 months when the applicant has met the following requirements:
1. Filed with the department a completed application for such endorsement on the form and in the manner provided by the department at least 30 days prior to expiration of the current endorsement;
2. Successfully completed the firearms retraining, pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth under Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation; and
3. Submitted the appropriate nonrefundable application processing fee to the department.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-90. License renewal application.
A. The department should receive applications for licensure renewal at least 30 days prior to expiration. The department will provide a renewal notification to the last known mailing address of the licensed person. However, if a renewal notification is not received by the person, it is the responsibility of the person to ensure renewal requirements are filed with the department. License renewal applications must be received by the department and all license requirements must be completed prior to the expiration date or shall be subject to all applicable, nonrefundable renewal fees plus reinstatement fees. Outstanding fees or monetary penalties owed to DCJS must be paid prior to issuance of a renewal.
B. Each person applying for license renewal shall meet the minimum requirements for eligibility as follows:
1. Successfully complete the in-service training, and firearms retraining if applicable, pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth under Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation;
2. Be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed. This subdivision shall not apply to any probationary periods during which the person is eligible to operate under the license; and
3. Maintain eligibility pursuant to 6VAC20-260-30 B.
C. The department may renew a license when the department receives the following:
1. A properly completed renewal application provided by the department;
2. Fingerprint cards submitted pursuant to 6VAC20-260-50;
3. The applicable, nonrefundable license renewal fee; and
4. Proof of successful completion of the in-service training, pursuant to the compulsory minimum training standards set forth under Part IV (6VAC20-260-120 et seq.) of this regulation.
D. Upon completion of the renewal license application requirements, the department may issue a license for a period not to exceed 24 months.
E. Any renewal application received after the expiration date of a license shall be subject to the requirements set forth by the reinstatement provisions of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-100. Replacement state issued identification.
A licensed person seeking a replacement state-issued photo identification shall submit to the department:
1. A properly completed application provided by the department; and
2. The applicable, nonrefundable application fee.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.
6VAC20-260-110. Reinstatement.
A. A bail enforcement agent license not renewed on or before the expiration date shall become null and void. Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, all such persons must currently be licensed with the department to provide bail enforcement agent services.
B. A renewal application must be received by the department within 60 days following the expiration date of the license in order to be reinstated by the department, providing all renewal requirements have been met. Prior to reinstatement, the following shall be submitted to the department:
1. The appropriate renewal application and completion of renewal requirements, including required training pursuant to this chapter; and
2. The applicable, nonrefundable reinstatement fee pursuant to this chapter and in accordance with 6VAC20-260-20 B.
The department shall not reinstate renewal applications received after the 60-day reinstatement period has expired. It is unlawful to operate without a valid license including during a reinstatement period.
C. No license shall be renewed or reinstated when all renewal application requirements are received by the department more than 60 days following the expiration date of the license. After that date, the applicant shall meet all initial application requirements, including applicable training requirements.
D. Following submittal of all reinstatement requirements, the department will process and may approve any application for reinstatement pursuant to the renewal process for the application.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-186.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009.