This bill amends the requirements for the annual report submitted by the attorney general regarding forfeitures of personal property. The new legal language specifies that the report must include detailed information about each seizure, such as the name of the law enforcement agency involved, the date and place of the seizure, the type and estimated value of the property, the alleged criminal offense, and the outcome of the related criminal case. Additionally, it mandates the inclusion of data on whether forfeiture is sought under federal law and the status of any claims filed by property owners. The previous requirement for a categorized accounting of proceeds expended has been removed.

The bill also introduces a new section requiring law enforcement agencies to provide disaggregated data on seizures, forfeitures, and expenditures of forfeiture proceeds to the attorney general. This change is expected to increase administrative costs for the Department of Justice, necessitating the hiring of an investigative paralegal funded primarily through federal sources. The estimated costs for this position are projected to be $59,000 in FY 2026, $58,000 in FY 2027, and $60,000 in FY 2028. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 617:12