Bail.

Existing law provides for the procedure of approving and accepting bail, and issuing an order for the appearance and release of an arrested person. Existing law authorizes specified sheriff, police, and court employees to approve and accept bail in the amount fixed by the warrant of arrest, schedule of bail, or order admitting to bail. Existing law requires the superior court judges in each county to prepare, adopt, and annually revise a uniform countywide schedule of bail, as specified. This bill would require bail to be set at $0 for all offenses except, among others, serious or violent felonies, violations of specified protective orders, battery against a spouse, sex offenses, and driving under the influence. The bill would require the Judicial Council to prepare, adopt, and annually revise a bail schedule for the exempt offenses. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact further changes to current law to ensure that a defendant is not detained pending trial simply due to an inability to pay for the amount of bail in the statewide schedule. The bill would prohibit costs relating to conditions of release on bail from being imposed on persons released on bail or on their own recognizance. The bill would require the sheriff, police, and court employees above to approve and accept bail in the amount fixed by the bail schedule. This bill would require the court to order a return of money or property paid to a bail bond licensee by or on behalf of the arrestee to obtain bail if the action or proceeding against the arrestee who has been admitted to bail is dismissed, no charges are filed against the arrestee within 60 days of arrest, or the arrestee has made all court appearances during the pendency of the action or proceeding against the arrestee, as specified. The bill would authorize the bail bond licensee to retain surcharge not to exceed 5% of the amount paid by the arrestee or on behalf of the arrestee. The bill would require the court to order this return of money or property only for a bail contract entered into on or after January 1, 2022.