Tennessee Bill to Allow Felons Defeated

Our neighbor to the east, Tennessee, seems to have a very different view on felons in the bail bond business than our state bail association and some legislators. WKRN reports that a bill was before the Tennessee House Judiciary Committee which would have allowed convicted felons to become licensed as bail bond agents. Unlike the Missouri Professional Bail Bond Association who writes legislation allowing felons, the Tennessee Association of Bail Agents spoke AGAINST the bill. The Tennessee bail association lobbyist told the committee that allowing felons would hurt the credibility of the industry with both the public and law enforcement. Also speaking against the bill was a former sheriff, who said that it would make him uncomfortable to have convicted felons in secure areas of the jail writing bonds. The bill was defeated in committee.