58-71-140. Registration of licenses and power of appointments by insurers.

(a) Before the date of the notice provided for in subsection (e) of this section, no professional bail bondsman shall become a surety on an undertaking unless he or she has registered his or her current license in the office of the clerk of superior court in the county in which he or she resides and a certified copy of the same with the clerk of superior court in any other county in which he or she shall write bail bonds.

(b) Before the date of the notice provided for in subsection (e) of this section, a surety bondsman shall register his or her current surety bondsman's license and a certified copy of his or her power of appointment with the clerk of superior court in the county in which the surety bondsman resides and with the clerk of superior court in any other county in which the surety bondsman writes bail bonds on behalf of an insurer.

(c) Before the date of the notice provided for in subsection (e) of this section, no runner shall become surety on an undertaking on behalf of a professional bondsman unless that runner has registered his or her current license and a certified copy of his or her power of attorney in the office of the clerk of superior court in the county in which the runner resides and with the clerk of superior court in any other county in which the runner writes bail bonds on behalf of the professional bondsman.

(c1) On or after the date of the notice provided for in subsection (e) of this section, all licensed professional bail bondsmen, surety bondsmen, and runners shall register in the statewide Electronic Bondsmen Registry in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.

(d) Professional bondsmen, surety bondsmen, and runners shall file with the clerk of court having jurisdiction over the principal an affidavit on a form furnished by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The affidavit shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) If applicable, a statement that the bondsman has not, nor has anyone for the bondsman's use, been promised or received any collateral, security, or premium for executing this appearance bond.

(2) If promised a premium, the amount of the premium promised and the due date.

(3) If the bondsman has received a premium, the amount of premium received.

(4) If given collateral security, the name of the person from whom it is received and the nature and amount of the collateral security listed in detail.

(e) On or before October 1, 2006, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall establish a statewide Electronic Bondsmen Registry (Registry) for all licenses, powers of appointment, and powers of attorney requiring registration under this section. When the Registry is established, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall notify the Commissioner and the Commissioner shall notify all licensed professional bondsmen, surety bondsmen, runners, and qualified insurance companies of the Registry. On or after the date of that notice, a person may register as required under this section by maintaining a record of each required license, power of appointment, or power of attorney in the Registry. After a bondsman, surety bondsman, or runner has completed registration in the Registry, he or she is authorized to execute bail bonds pursuant to his or her registered license, power of appointment, or power of attorney in all counties so long as the registered license, power of appointment, or power of attorney remains in effect.