§32-20-22. Designated agents of department.

(a) Each judge of probate, commissioner of licenses, director of revenue, or other county official in this state authorized and required by law to issue motor vehicle license tags, unless otherwise provided by law, shall by virtue of his or her office be a designated agent of the department. Judges of probate, commissioners of licenses, directors of revenue, or other county officials may perform their duties under this chapter either personally or through any of their deputies.

(b) Every dealer, as defined in this chapter, shall qualify as a designated agent of the department. The dealers may perform their duties under this chapter either personally or through any of their officers or employees; provided, that the dealers or persons shall enter into a bond with a corporate surety authorized to do business in this state as surety thereon, payable to the State of Alabama in a sum as provided in subsection (b) of Section 32-8-34, conditioned on the faithful performance of their duties under this chapter.

(c) The department may appoint other persons as its designated agents under this chapter. An appointee shall enter into a bond as provided in subsection (b) of Section 32-8-34, conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties under this chapter. Full-time bonded employees of the Department of Revenue may serve as designated agents without additional bond.

(Act 2009-746, p. 2236, §4.)