Idaho Gov. Butch Otter held a signing ceremony Tuesday for legislation that allows the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) to license bail bond agents.  The legislation was approved overwhelmingly in the Idaho House and Senate, with only one "no" vote on the floor.  During the signing ceremony, Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, said the legislation will improve on the current bail system in several ways, including increasing uniformity across county courts dealing with bail agents.

In the legislation, the director of DOI would be able to suspend the license of any bail agent if he or she makes a false statement to a court or is convicted of a crime that shows bad moral character or financial responsibility.

Otter, Clark, and Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden, said the reforms have been five years in the making.

The legislation also requires bail agents to register their license with district courts, and allows courts to refuse payments from bail agents they feel break the terms of their license.

DOI Director Bill Deal and Rob Hayes, the CEO for Alladin Bail Bonds, which operates more than 50 locations in Idaho, Washington and California, said the new regulations are a consensus agreement between the state and the bail industry.

The signing ceremony could be one of the last official acts for Clark, who is not running for re-election for his House seat.