§ 22-26. Authority to approve bonding business.

(a)

A certificate of authority ("certificate") is required for any and all individuals, corporations or other legal entities wishing to engage in the bonding business in the city. This certificate is renewable annually unless the applicant has defaulted under this article, ceases to be in good standing or has violated other general federal and state laws applicable to either the entity or to any individual involved with the applicant or the bonding business itself. No person or business shall commence to do business or continue to do business in the city without a valid certificate of authority.

(b)

Within the context of these requirements and as defined by state law, a "professional bondsperson" is one who holds him or herself out as a signer of surety of bonds for compensation (O.C.G.A. § 17-6-50). The requirements contained in this article shall in no way lessen the requirements placed upon professional bondspersons under state law. A certificate of authority will be issued annually by the police department to those applicants meeting the requirements contained herein and a professional bondsperson shall be authorized to write surety bonds in the city only upon issuance of a certificate of authority and upon maintaining that certificate in force. A professional bondsperson shall not be authorized to directly write bonds in the city at any time while his, her or its certificate of authority is suspended or revoked.

(c)

An "applicant" can be an individual, trust, a group of individuals, whether or not formed as a partnership or other legal entity, a corporation or a combination of individuals, trusts and corporations. An applicant can and often is the same as a bondsperson.

(d)

All employees, agents, applicable creditors and other individuals or entities described in these regulations are required to complete, swear to and file a professional bondsperson application form with the city police department.

(e)

All certificates must be prominently displayed in the business location of the applicant.

(f)

All applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 to cover costs of investigation and all applications must be accompanied by a fee of $25.00 for each person required to submit a professional bondsperson application. Each renewal application and all additional professional bondsperson applications must be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee of $25.00 each.

(g)

Bondsman shall be deemed to include the term bondsperson and can include a natural person or a corporation.

(h)

Certificates of authority are nontransferable.

(Ord. No. 378, 10-8-93)