PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 12, 1998
Bounty Hunter Accountability and Quality Assistance Act of 1998 - Authorizes: (1) an association of bail enforcement employers designated by the Attorney General to submit to the Attorney General fingerprints or other approved methods of positive identification on behalf of any applicant for a State license or certificate of registration as a bail enforcement officer or employer; and (2) the Attorney General, for licensing and employment purposes, to exchange identification and criminal history records with the State governmental agencies to which the applicant has applied. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) submit to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees a report on the number and disposition of submissions made by the association; and (2) publish in the Federal Register model guidelines for the State control and regulation of persons employed or applying for employment as bail enforcement officers. Requires such guidelines to include recommendations of the Attorney General regarding whether a person seeking employment as a bail enforcement officer should be: (1) allowed to obtain such employment if that person has been convicted of a felony offense under Federal law or of any offense under State law that would be a felony if charged under Federal law; (2) required to obtain adequate liability insurance; or (3) prohibited, if acting in the capacity of that person as a bail enforcement officer, from entering any private dwelling, unless that person first knocks on the front door and announces the presence of one or more bail enforcement officers. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to give priority in awarding drug control and system improvement (Byrne program) grants to States that have adopted the model guidelines. Considers a bail enforcement officer, whether acting as an independent contractor or as an employee of a bail enforcement employer on a bail bond, to be the agent of that employer for liability purposes.
People & committees
Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ] · D–NJ
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11812-11813)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11812-11813)
Star Print ordered on the bill as reported.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 582.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S737-738)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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