This bill amends the requirements for the annual report that the attorney general must submit regarding forfeitures of personal property. The current law mandates that the attorney general post a report detailing state forfeiture activity within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year. The bill introduces new reporting requirements, which include specific information such as the name of the law enforcement agency involved, the date and type of property seized, the place of seizure, the estimated value of the seizure, and details about the criminal case associated with the seizure. Notably, the bill specifies that reporting is not required for seized contraband, such as alcohol and controlled substances. Additionally, it requires that the data be provided in disaggregated form by the law enforcement agency to the attorney general.

The bill also removes previous reporting requirements that included a categorized accounting of all proceeds expended from forfeitures. The estimated fiscal impact of the bill indicates that while it does not provide funding or authorize new positions, the Department of Justice anticipates needing a part-time paralegal to manage the expanded reporting requirements, with projected costs of approximately $47,214 in FY 2027, $45,569 in FY 2028, and $47,305 in FY 2029. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 617:12
HB1631 text: 617:12