Numbers Don’t Lie: Understanding Florida Statute 648.365 on Bail-Bond Statistical Reporting

Behind every bond you write is a trail of numbers—premiums, forfeitures, judgments, collateral conversions. Florida Statute 648.365 turns those numbers into mandatory data points the Department of Financial Services (DFS) can request at any time. Miss a column, fudge a figure, or ignore a request and you face a first-degree misdemeanor. Below, we translate the statute into four practical sections and link to deeper resources—like the flexible Florida 120-Hour Bail Bonding Course and our compliance primer Trust Funds & Trail Balance—§ 648.295—so your spreadsheets stay audit-ready.

Who Reports What—and When

Both insurers and bail bond agents must maintain a running ledger of Florida business and hand it over whenever DFS asks. Agents report every field except underwriting and investment gains (items a, l, and m), which only insurers file. The data must be broken out company by company if you hold multiple appointments—no lump sums allowed.

The 13 Core Data Fields You Must Track

Keep a digital worksheet with at least these columns:

Commissions paid (insurers only)
Number & dollar amount of bonds executed
Bonds forfeited
Forfeitures recovered before payment (any reason)
Forfeitures recovered because you apprehended the defendant
Judgments entered
Forfeitures paid, later recovered by remission/discharge
Outstanding forfeitures, estreatures & judgments—plus case numbers and courts
Bonds with collateral accepted
Realized value of collateral converted
Cost of converting collateral
Underwriting gain/loss (insurers)
Net investment gain/loss (insurers)

DFS can also request “any additional information” to assess rates, financial health, or industry performance.

Penalties for Bad or Missing Data

Intentionally failing to provide the report, supplying false totals, or omitting required fields is a first-degree misdemeanor—up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. DFS may also suspend your license or your insurer’s appointment. Keep monthly backups and reconcile them with court dockets; the five-minute audit you do now beats the five-figure penalty later.

Statute 648.365 turns your bond ledger into a living report card—one DFS can grade at any moment. Track each of the 13 required metrics, reconcile them monthly, and share copies with every insurer you represent. Need help building the perfect spreadsheet? Our 120-Hour Pre-Licensing Course walks you through sample templates and audit drills, so your numbers will be rock-solid and inspection-ready from day one.