The Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board Board July 10, 2020 Meeting Minutes

With proper and required notice having been provided to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office along with posting on the websites of the Alabama Secretary of State and the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, a meeting of the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board was held on July 10, 2020, at the Office of the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, 60 Commerce Street, Suite 1440, Montgomery, Alabama.  The meeting was called to order at 10:17 a.m. by Chairman Chris McNeil.

A quorum having been established, the following Board members were present:

District I:  Chris McNeil
District II:  Gus Maxie (arrived 10:20 a.m.)
District III:  Barry Johnson
District IV:  Alesia Kyser
District V:  Victor Howard
District VI:  Jimmie Lay
Judge:  The Honorable Spiro Cheriogotis
Circuit Clerk:  The Honorable Carla H. Woodall

The following Board members were not present:

District VII:  Edward Giles (was present by phone/not voting)

Also in attendance was John Selden, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Board Attorney; Claire Austin, Executive Director; and Brenda Holden, Administrative Support.

Unless otherwise stated, all votes of the Board were taken by a show of hands.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Victor Howard.

A motion to approve the agenda was made by Jimmie Lay and seconded by Barry Johnson.  Motion passed unanimously.

The minutes of the June 5, 2020, meeting of the Board were reviewed by all members present.  A motion was made to waive the reading of said-minutes and approve as submitted by Jimmie Lay.  Motion seconded by Barry Johnson.  Motion passed unanimously.

District II Board Member Gus Maxie arrived at 10:20 a.m.

The Executive Director’s Report was presented to the Board by Claire Austin to include the number of applications received, licenses issued, applications to be reviewed or are incomplete, and financial update.

Discussions were held regarding difficulties of applicants submitting the required application and supporting documents due to no access to internet; applicants were advised to seek public access at public buildings, such as public libraries, and that applications could be forwarded via mail or in-person delivery.

Discussions were held regarding the required 8”x10” certificates and the modifications needed due to printing errors.  The Board also reviewed the license card that will be issued.

The Board addressed possible changes to license designation on the certificate and license card regarding the type of license obtained and will be reviewed should changes in the law occur to require licensees to obtain a license for each category of licensure.

Discussions were held regarding the issue date not being on the 8”x10” certificate but is on the license card.  At this time there will be no changes to issue date being printed on the 8”x10” certificate.

At 10:50 a.m., a motion was made by Carla Woodall to convene into Executive Session for an estimated time of 15 minutes as the good name and character would be discussed of applicants set to appear in person before the Board; motion seconded by Jimmie Lay.  Upon a roll call vote being held, motion passed unanimously.

At 10:58 a.m. a motion was made by Jimmie Lay for the Board to reconvene into regular session; motion seconded by Barry Johnson.  Motion passed unanimously.

A discussion was held regarding applicants who are deemed convicted felons, convictions of crimes of moral turpitude, and authority of the Board if licensee obtains an Order of Limited Relief.  Further discussion was held recognizing the Board’s authority to determine convictions of crimes of moral turpitude and the need to maintain consistency while reviewing each case on an individual basis and extenuating circumstances surrounding the charge.

The Board directed the Executive Director to distribute a report of all currently-licensed professional bondsmen, professional sureties, and recovery agents to the Presidents of the Alabama Circuit Clerk’s Association, Alabama Presiding Judge’s Association, and Alabama Sheriff’s Association asking if they would forward said-report to their membership so as to inform them of those who had properly obtained their license as now required by law.  It was suggested by Carla Woodall for the report to be disbursed by the first week of August, 2020.  In that applications are still being submitted and supporting documents received, it was discussed that there could be a need for the list to be amended; and if so, then a supplemental list could be forwarded to each entity by the Executive Director with a timeline of September 1, 2020.

An Application Review sub-committee was appointed by Chairman Chris McNeil for the purpose of reviewing applications for licensure.  The following board members were appointed to the sub-committee:  Chris McNeil, Barry Johnson, Jimmie Lay, and Gustavious Maxie.

At 11:16 a.m., a motion was made by Jimmie Lay to convene into Executive Session for an estimated time of 45 minutes as the good name and character would be discussed of applicants for licensure by the Board; motion seconded by Barry Johnson.  Upon a roll call vote being held, motion passed unanimously.

At 11:39 a.m. Vic Howard left the meeting and returned at 11:45 a.m.

At 11:59 a.m. a motion was made by Jimmie Lay for the Board to reconvene into regular session; motion seconded by Spiro Cheriogotis.  Motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Chris McNeil called on the Board to approve applications for licensure; whereupon, the Board voted on each applicant considering discussions held in Executive Session and directed the Executive Director regarding further action to be taken be notated in each applicant’s file and forwarded to said-applicant.  Names of applicants are to purposely be withheld from the minutes to protect their good name and character.

The Board discussed continuing education requirements and submitted vendor applications.  A motion was made to approve the Alabama Bail Bonding Association as a vendor by Jimmie Lay and seconded by Alicia Kyser.  Motion passed unanimously.

The Executive Director informed the Board that refunds were due to applicants who submitted duplicate applications for licensure in error, and Chairman Chris McNeil so authorized the Executive Director to issue said-refunds.

Additional discussions were held to ensure that a distribution list would be issued by the Executive Director to the Presidents of the Alabama Circuit Clerk’s Association, Alabama Presiding Judge’s Association, and Alabama Sheriff’s Association of all licensees by the first week in August.

The next meeting of the Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board was set for Friday, July 31, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.  Carla Woodall informed the Board that she would have a conflict due to attending the Alabama Circuit Clerk’s Conference and there would be a need for Chairman Chris McNeil to appoint someone to record the minutes of the meeting.

There being no further business, motion to adjourn was made by Jimmie Lay and seconded by Victor Howard.  Motion passed unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

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Chris McNeil
Chairman

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Carla Woodall
Secretary