(5) "Business" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, or corporation.

(6) "Business representative" means an owner, officer, director, manager, member, partner, or other agent of a business.

(7) "Certified bail recovery agent" means an individual who is certified under s. 440.282 (3).

(8) "Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in s.165.85 (2) (c).

(9) "Licensed agency" means a business that is licensed under s. 440.282 (2).

(10) "Licensed agent" means an individual who is licensed under s. 440.282 (1).

(11) "Principal" means a defendant who is released on a bail bond under ch. 969.

20,2187h Section 2187h. 440.281 of the statutes is created to read:

440.281 License or certification required. (1) Bail bond agents and agencies. (a) No individual may act as a bail bond agent in this state unless the individual is a licensed agent and the bail bond is underwritten by a surety company authorized to do business in this state.

(b) No business may act as a bail bond agency in this state unless the business is a licensed agency and the bail bond is underwritten by a surety company authorized to do business in this state.

(c) A licensed agent or licensed agency may be compensated to act as a surety for a bail bond under ch. 969 only in an action brought in Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, or Waukesha county. This paragraph does not apply after the last day of the 60th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

(2) Bail recovery agents. Except as provided in s. 440.288 (1) (c), no individual may act as a bail recovery agent in this state unless the individual is a certified bail recovery agent.

20,2187i Section 2187i. 440.282 of the statutes is created to read:

440.282 Licensure of bail bond agents and agencies; bail recovery agent certification. (1) Bail bond agents. The department shall grant a license to act as a bail bond agent to an individual if the department determines that all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The individual submits an application for the license to the department on a form prescribed by the department. The application shall include the individual's name and address, a recent photograph of the individual, and any other information required by the department by rule.

(b) The individual satisfies the education, training, and examination requirements established by the department by rule.

(c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the individual does not have an arrest or conviction record.

(d) The individual pays an initial licensure fee of $1,000.

(e) The individual satisfies any other requirements established by the department by rule.

(2) Bail bond agencies. The department shall grant a license to act as a bail bond agency to a business if the department determines that all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The business submits an application to the department on a form prescribed by the department. The application shall include the business's name and address, the name and addresses of the business representatives of the business and any bail bond agents who are employed by the business, and any other information required by the department by rule.

(b) The business has at least one business representative who is a licensed agent.

(c) The business pays the initial credential fee of $1,000.

(d) The business satisfies any other requirements established by the department by rule.

(3) Bail recovery agents. The department shall grant a certification to act as a bail recovery agent to an individual if the department determines that all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The individual submits an application for certification to the department on a form prescribed by the department. The application shall include the individual's name and address, a recent photograph of the individual, and any other information required by the department by rule.

(b) The individual is a private detective who is licensed under s. 440.26 (2) (a) 2.

(c) The individual satisfies the education, training, and examination requirements established by the department by rule.

(d) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the individual does not have an arrest or conviction record.