Professions and occupations; bail bondsmen; clarifying reimbursement for the transportation of defendants. Effective date.

This bill clarifies the rules for bail bondsmen in Oklahoma by defining specific conditions under which they can be reimbursed for transporting defendants back to the original court. It establishes that travel expenses are covered only when a defendant is held in another jurisdiction, calculating reimbursement based on actual miles driven at the IRS standard mileage rate unless a contracted transport company is used. The legislation also outlines when a bondsman earns the bond premium, stating it is earned once the defendant is released from custody, with exceptions for cases where the premium must be returned. Additionally, the bill strengthens penalties for unlicensed individuals acting as bail bondsmen and clarifies the surrender process for defendants who violate their bail contracts.