Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Stop Predatory Bail Contracts Act”.
Stop Predatory Bail Contracts Act
A BILL
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations to prohibit any bail bond agent or person who underwrites or insures the provision of a bail bond who require a bonded individual to wear an ankle monitor or other homing device as a condition on issuing such a bond from charging any fee associated with such monitor or device that exceeds the cost to the bail bond agent or person who underwrites or insures the provision of a bail bond of maintaining and operating such monitor or device.
Sec. 2 Prohibition on fees for ankle monitors associated with bail bonds
FTC Rulemaking— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit a bail bond agent or person who underwrites or insures the provision of bail bond who require an individual for whom a bond is provided to wear an ankle monitor or other homing device as a condition on issuing such a bond from charging any fee associated with such monitor or device that exceeds the cost to the bail bond agent or person who underwrites or insures the provision of a bail bond of maintaining and operating such monitor or device.
Enforcement—
Treatment of violation as unfair or deceptive act or practice— A violation of a regulation issued under subsection (a) shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
FTC Authority— The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
Definition— The term bail bond agent means any person that will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of individuals accused in court.