CS/HB 381 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0381-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to breach of bond costs; amending s. 2
903.21, F.S.; requiring sureties to pay costs and 3
expenses incurred in returning a defendant to the 4
jurisdiction of the court; providing construction; 5
specifying recoverable costs; revising and providing 6
definitions; providing an effective date. 7
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
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Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 903.2 1, Florida 11
Statutes, is amended to read: 12
903.21 Method of surrender; exoneration of obligors. — 13
(3)(a) The surety shall be exonerated of liability on the 14
bond if it is determined before prior to breach of the bond that 15
the defendant is in any jail or pr ison and the surety agrees in 16
writing to pay the costs and expenses incurred in transportation 17
cost of returning the defendant to the jurisdiction of the 18
court. A surety is only responsible for the itemized costs and 19
expenses incurred for the transport of a defendant to whom he or 20
she has a fiduciary duty and is not liable for the costs and 21
expenses incurred in transporting any other defendant. 22
(b) For purposes of this subsection, the term: 23
1. "Costs and expenses" means the prorated salary of any 24
law enforcement officer or employee of a contracted 25
CS/HB 381 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0381-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
transportation company as well as the actual expenses of 26
transporting each defendant, which may only consist of mileage, 27
vehicle expenses, meals, and, if necessary, overnight lodging 28
for any law enforcement off icer or employee of a contracted 29
transportation company and the defendant. 30
2. "Jurisdiction" means the county from which the 31
defendant was released on bail within the judicial circuit as 32
prescribed by law. 33
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 34