SB 443, as amended, Mitchell. Forfeiture: controlled substances.
Existing law subjects certain property to forfeiture, such as controlled substances and equipment used to process controlled substances. Existing law allows peace officers, under specified circumstances, to seize property that is subject to forfeiture. Existing law authorizes specified public agencies to bring an action to recover expenses of seizing, eradicating, destroying, or taking remedial action with respect to any controlled substance. In a forfeiture action with regards to cash or negotiable instruments of a value of not less than $25,000, existing law requires the state or local agency to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture. Existing law requires seized property or the proceeds from the sale of that property to be distributed among specified entities. Existing law requires the Attorney General to publish a yearly report on forfeiture within the state.
This bill would require a prosecuting agency to seek or obtain a criminal conviction for the unlawful manufacture or cultivation of any controlled substance or its precursors prior to an entry of judgment for recovery of expenses of seizing, eradicating, destroying, or taking remedial action with respect to any controlled substance. The bill would prohibit maintaining an action for recovery of expenses against a person who has been acquitted of the underlying criminal charges.
The bill would prohibit state or local law enforcement agencies from transferring seized property to a federal agency seeking adoption by the federal agency of the seized property.begin delete The bill would also require that any property seized pursuant to any federal law that authorizes the sharing or transfer of forfeited property be distributed according to state law, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.end delete
The bill would further prohibit state or local agencies from requestingbegin insert or receivingend insert an equitable share from a federal agency of specified seized property if a conviction for the underlying offenses is not obtained.
The bill would require notices of a forfeiture action to contain additional details, such as the rights of an interested party at a forfeiture hearing.begin delete The bill would require the court to appoint counsel for the defendant in the forfeiture proceeding if a defendant in a related
criminal matter is represented by court-appointed counsel, thereby creating a state-mandated local program.end delete The bill would change the burden of proof that a state or local law enforcement agency must meet to succeed in a forfeiture action with regards to cash or negotiable instruments of a value not less than $25,000, from a clear andbegin delete convictingend deletebegin insert convincingend insert standard to beyond a reasonable doubt. The bill would also make other specified changes to court forfeiture proceedings, including allowing parties to waive the requirement that forfeiture cases be tried in conjunction with related criminal cases when the forfeiture hearing is continued orbegin delete stayed.end delete
begin deleteThe bill would allow recovery of attorney’s fees for defendants or claimants in a forfeiture action who substantially prevail. The bill would make specified changes to the distribution of proceeds from forfeiture actions
under state law, including reducing distributions to seizing law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices, and providing distributions to specified funds for specified purposes.end deletebegin insert stayed.end insert The bill would also require the Attorney General to include additional information on forfeiture actions in the yearly report.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
end deleteThis bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
end deleteVote: majority.
Appropriation: no.
Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: begin deleteyes end deletebegin insertnoend insert.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 11470.1 of the Health and Safety Code
2 is amended to read:
(a) The expenses of seizing, eradicating, destroying,
4or taking remedial action with respect to, any controlled substance
5or its precursors shall be recoverable from:
6(1) Any person who manufactures or cultivates a controlled
7substance or its precursors in violation of this division.
8(2) Any person who aids and abets or who knowingly profits
9in any manner from the manufacture or cultivation of a controlled
10substance or its precursors on property owned, leased, or possessed
11by the defendant, in violation of this division.
12(b) The
expenses of taking remedial action with respect to any
13
controlled substance or its precursors shall also be recoverable
14from any person liable for the costs of that remedial action under
15Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) of Division 20 of
16the Health and Safety Code.
17(c) It shall be necessary to seek or obtain a criminal conviction
18for the unlawful manufacture or cultivation of any controlled
19substance or its precursors prior to the entry of judgment for the
20recovery of expenses. If criminal charges are pending against the
21defendant for the unlawful manufacture or cultivation of any
22controlled substance or its precursors, an action brought pursuant
23to this section shall, upon a defendant’s request, be continued while
24the criminal charges are pending.
25(d) The action may be brought by the district attorney,
county
26counsel, city attorney, the State Department of Health Care
27Services, or Attorney General. All expenses recovered pursuant
P4 1to this section shall be remitted to the law enforcement agency
2which incurred them.
3(e) (1) The burden of proof as to liability shall be on the plaintiff
4and shall be by a preponderance of the evidence in an action
5alleging that the defendant is liable for expenses pursuant to
6paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). The burden of proof as to liability
7shall be on the plaintiff and shall be by clear and convincing
8evidence in an action alleging that the defendant is liable for
9expenses pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). The burden
10of proof as to the amount of expenses recoverable shall be on the
11plaintiff and shall be by a preponderance of the evidence in any
12action brought pursuant to
subdivision (a).
13(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for any person convicted of
14a criminal charge of the manufacture or cultivation of a controlled
15substance or its precursors there shall be a presumption affecting
16the burden of proof that the person is liable.
17(f) Only expenses which meet the following requirements shall
18be recoverable under this section:
19(1) The expenses were incurred in seizing, eradicating, or
20destroying the controlled substance or its precursors or in taking
21remedial action with respect to a hazardous substance. These
22expenses may not include any costs incurred in use of the herbicide
23paraquat.
24(2) The expenses were incurred as a
proximate result of the
25defendant’s manufacture or cultivation of a controlled substance
26in violation of this division.
27(3) The expenses were reasonably incurred.
28(g) For purposes of this section, “remedial action” shall have
29the meaning set forth in Section 25322.
30(h) For the purpose of discharge in bankruptcy, a judgment for
31recovery of expenses under this section shall be deemed to be a
32debt for willful and malicious injury by the defendant to another
33entity or to the property of another entity.
34(i) Notwithstanding Section 526 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
35the plaintiff may be granted a temporary restraining order or a
36preliminary injunction, pending or
during trial, to restrain the
37defendant from transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, or
38otherwise disposing of any assets specified by the court, if it
39appears by the complaint that the plaintiff is entitled to the relief
P5 1demanded and it appears that the defendant may dispose of those
2assets to thwart enforcement of the judgment.
3(j) The Legislature finds and declares that civil penalties for the
4recovery of expenses incurred in enforcing the provisions of this
5division shall not supplant criminal prosecution for violation of
6those provisions, but shall be a supplemental remedy to criminal
7enforcement.
8(k) Any testimony, admission, or any other statement made by
9the defendant in any proceeding brought pursuant to this section,
10or any evidence derived from the testimony,
admission, or other
11statement, shall not be admitted or otherwise used in any criminal
12proceeding arising out of the same conduct.
13(l) No action shall be brought or maintained pursuant to this
14section against a person who has been acquitted of criminal charges
15for conduct that is the basis for an action under this section.
Section 11471.2 is added to the Health and Safety
17Code, to read:
(a) State or local law enforcement authorities shall
19not refer or otherwise transfer property seized under state law
20authorizing the seizure of property to a federal agency seeking the
21adoption of the seized property by the federal agency for
22proceeding with federal forfeiture. Nothing in this section shall be
23construed to prohibit the federal government, or any of its agencies,
24from seizing property, seeking forfeiture under federal law, or
25sharing federally forfeited property with state or local law
26enforcement agencies when those state or local agencies work with
27federal agencies in joint investigations arising out of federal law
28or federal joint task forces comprised of federal and state or local
29agencies.
30(b) All property, moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, or
31other things of value received by any state or local law enforcement
32agency pursuant to any federal law that authorizes the sharing or
33transfer
by federal agencies of all or a portion of forfeited property
34or the proceeds from the sale of forfeited property to a state or
35local law enforcement agency shall be promptly transferred, sold,
36and distributed as set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11489.1.
37 (c)
end delete
38begin insert(b)end insert A state or local law enforcement agency
participating in a
39joint investigation with a federal agency shall not request an
40equitable share from the federal agency of all or a portion of the
P6 1forfeited property or proceeds from the sale of property forfeited
2pursuant to federal law unless a defendant is convicted in an
3underlying or related criminal action of an offense for which
4property is subject to forfeiture as specified in Section 11470 or
5Section 11488, or an offense under federal law that includes all of
6the elements of an offense for which property is subject to forfeiture
7as specified in Sections 11470 and 11488.
8 (d)
end delete
9begin insert(c)end insert If a conviction in the underlying or related criminal action
10is not obtained, statebegin insert or localend insert law enforcement authorities shall
11notbegin delete requestend deletebegin insert receiveend insert an equitable share from the federal agency of
12all or a portion of the forfeited property or proceeds from the sale
13of property forfeited pursuant to federal law.
Section 11488.4 of the Health and Safety Code is
15amended to read:
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (j), if the
17Department of Justice or the local governmental entity determines
18that the factual circumstances do warrant that the moneys,
19negotiable instruments, securities, or other things of value seized
20or subject to forfeiture come within the provisions of subdivisions
21(a) to (g), inclusive, of Section 11470, and are not automatically
22made forfeitable or subject to court order of forfeiture or
23destruction by another provision of this chapter, the Attorney
24General or district attorney shall file a petition of forfeiture with
25the superior court of the county in which the defendant has been
26charged with the underlying criminal offense or in which
the
27
property subject to forfeiture has been seized or, if no seizure has
28occurred, in the county in which the property subject to forfeiture
29is located. If the petition alleges that real property is forfeitable,
30the prosecuting attorney shall cause a lis pendens to be recorded
31in the office of the county recorder of each county in which the
32real property is located.
33(2) A petition of forfeiture under this subdivision shall be filed
34as soon as practicable, but in any case within one year of the seizure
35of the property which is subject to forfeiture, or as soon as
36practicable, but in any case within one year of the filing by the
37Attorney General or district attorney of a lis pendens or other
38process against the property, whichever is earlier.
39(b) Physical seizure of
assets shall not be necessary in order to
40have that particular asset alleged to be forfeitable in a petition
P7 1under this section. The prosecuting attorney may seek protective
2orders for any asset pursuant to Section 11492.
3(c) The Attorney General or district attorney shall make service
4of process regarding this petition upon every individual designated
5in a receipt issued for the property seized. In addition, the Attorney
6General or district attorney shall cause a notice of the seizure, if
7any, and of the intended forfeiture proceeding, as well as a notice
8stating that any interested party may file a verified claim with the
9superior court of the county in which the property was seized or
10if the property was not seized, a notice of the initiation of forfeiture
11proceedings with respect to any interest in the property seized or
12subject to forfeiture,
to be served by personal delivery or by
13registered mail upon any person who has an interest in the seized
14property or property subject to forfeiture other than persons
15designated in a receipt issued for the property seized. Whenever
16a notice is delivered pursuant to this section, it shall be
17accompanied by a claim form as described in Section 11488.5 and
18directions for the filing and service of a claim.
19(d) An investigation shall be made by the law enforcement
20agency as to any claimant to a vehicle, boat, or airplane whose
21right, title, interest, or lien is of record in the Department of Motor
22Vehicles or appropriate federal agency. If the law enforcement
23agency finds that any person, other than the registered owner, is
24the legal owner thereof, and that ownership did not arise subsequent
25to the date and time of arrest or notification of the
forfeiture
26
proceedings or seizure of the vehicle, boat, or airplane, it shall
27forthwith send a notice to the legal owner at his or her address
28appearing on the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles or
29appropriate federal agency.
30(e) When a forfeiture action is filed, the notices shall be
31published once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper
32of general circulation in the county where the seizure was made
33or where the property subject to forfeiture is located.
34(f) All notices shall set forth the time within which a claim of
35interest in the property seized or subject to forfeiture is required
36to be filed pursuant to Section 11488.5. The notices shall explain,
37in plain language, what an interested party must do and the time
38in which the person must act to contest
the forfeiture in a hearing.
39The notices shall state what rights the interested party has at a
P8 1hearing. The notices shall also state the legal consequences for
2failing to respond to the forfeiture notice.
3(g) Nothing contained in this chapter shall preclude a person,
4other than a defendant, claiming an interest in property actually
5seized from moving for a return of property if that person can show
6standing by proving an interest in the property not assigned
7subsequent to the seizure or filing of the forfeiture petition.
8(h) (1) If there is an underlying or related criminal action, a
9defendant may move for the return of the property on the grounds
10that there is not probable cause to believe that the property is
11forfeitable pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive,
of Section
1211470 and is not automatically made forfeitable or subject to court
13order of forfeiture or destruction by another provision of this
14chapter. The motion may be made prior to, during, or subsequent
15to the preliminary examination. If made subsequent to the
16preliminary examination, the Attorney General or district attorney
17may submit the record of the preliminary hearing as evidence that
18probable cause exists to believe that the underlying or related
19criminal violations have occurred.
20(2) Within 15 days after a defendant’s motion is granted, the
21people may file a petition for a writ of mandate or prohibition
22seeking appellate review of the ruling.
23(i) (1) With respect to property described in subdivisions (e)
24and (g) of Section 11470 for which
forfeiture is sought and as to
25which forfeiture is contested, the state or local governmental entity
26shall have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that
27the property for which forfeiture is sought was used, or intended
28to be used, to facilitate a violation of one of the offenses
29enumerated in subdivision (f) or (g) of Section 11470.
30(2) In the case of property described in subdivision (f) of Section
3111470, for which forfeiture is sought and as to which forfeiture is
32contested, the state or local governmental entity shall have the
33burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the property for
34which forfeiture is sought meets the criteria for forfeiture described
35in subdivision (f) of Section 11470.
36(3) In the case of property described in paragraphs (1) and (2),
37
where forfeiture is contested, a judgment of forfeiture requires as
38a condition precedent thereto, that a defendant be convicted in an
39underlying or related criminal action of an offense specified in
40subdivision (f) or (g) of Section 11470 which offense occurred
P9 1within five years of the seizure of the property subject to forfeiture
2or within five years of the notification of intention to seek
3forfeiture. If the defendant is found guilty of the underlying or
4related criminal offense, the issue of forfeiture shall be tried before
5the same jury, if the trial was by jury, or tried before the same
6court, if trial was by court, unless waived by all parties. The issue
7of forfeiture shall be bifurcated from the criminal trial and tried
8after conviction unless waived by all the parties.begin delete If the defendant
9in the related criminal matter is represented by court-appointed
10
counsel, the trial court shall appoint counsel for the defendant in
11the forfeiture proceeding.end delete
12(4) If there is an underlying or related criminal action, and a
13criminal conviction is required before a judgment of forfeiture
14may be entered, the issue of forfeiture shall be tried in conjunction
15therewith. In such a case, the issue of forfeiture shall be bifurcated
16from the criminal trial and tried after conviction unless waived by
17the parties. Trial shall be by jury unless waived by all parties. If
18there is no underlying or related criminal action, the presiding
19judge of the superior court shall assign the action brought pursuant
20to this chapter for trial.
21(j) The Attorney General or the district attorney of the county
22in which property is subject to forfeiture under Section
11470 may,
23pursuant to this subdivision, order forfeiture of personal property
24not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in value.
25The Attorney General or district attorney shall provide notice of
26proceedings under this subdivision pursuant to subdivisions (c),
27(d), (e), and (f), including:
28(1) A description of the property.
29(2) The appraised value of the property.
30(3) The date and place of seizure or location of any property
31not seized but subject to forfeiture.
32(4) The violation of law alleged with respect to forfeiture of the
33property.
34(5) (A) The
instructions for filing and serving a claim with the
35Attorney General or the district attorney pursuant to Section
3611488.5 and time limits for filing a claim and claim form.
37(B) If no claims are timely filed, the Attorney General or the
38district attorney shall prepare a written declaration of forfeiture of
39the subject property to the state and dispose of the property in
40accordance withbegin delete subdivision (b) of Section 11489.1.end deletebegin insert Section 11489.end insert
P10 1 A written declaration of forfeiture signed by the Attorney General
2or district attorney under this subdivision shall be deemed to
3provide good and sufficient title to the forfeited property. The
4prosecuting agency ordering forfeiture pursuant to this
subdivision
5shall provide a copy of the declaration of forfeiture to any person
6listed in the receipt given at the time of seizure and to any person
7personally served notice of the forfeiture proceedings.
8(C) If a claim is timely filed, then the Attorney General or
9district attorney shall file a petition of forfeiture pursuant to this
10section within 30 days of the receipt of the claim. The petition of
11forfeiture shall then proceed pursuant to other provisions of this
12chapter, except that no additional notice need be given and no
13additional claim need be filed.
14(k) If in any underlying or related criminal action or proceeding,
15in which a petition for forfeiture has been filed pursuant to this
16section, and a criminal conviction is required before a judgment
17of forfeiture may be
entered, the defendant willfully fails to appear
18as required, there shall be no requirement of a criminal conviction
19as a prerequisite to the forfeiture. In these cases, forfeiture shall
20be ordered as against the defendant and judgment entered upon
21default, upon application of the state or local governmental entity.
22In its application for default, the state or local governmental entity
23shall be required to give notice to the defendant’s attorney of
24record, if any, in the underlying or related criminal action, and to
25make a showing of due diligence to locate the defendant. In moving
26for a default judgment pursuant to this subdivision, the state or
27local governmental entity shall be required to establish a prima
28facie case in support of its petition for forfeiture.
Section 11488.5 of the Health and Safety Code is
30amended to read:
(a) (1) Any person claiming an interest in the
32property seized pursuant to Section 11488 may, unless for good
33cause shown the court extends the time for filing, at any time within
3430 days from the date of the last publication of the notice of seizure,
35if that person was not personally served or served by mail, or within
3630 days after receipt of actual notice, file with the superior court
37of the county in which the defendant has been charged with the
38underlying or related criminal offense or in which the property
39was seized or, if there was no seizure, in which the
property is
40located, a claim, verified in accordance with Section 446 of the
P11 1Code of Civil Procedure, stating his or her interest in the property.
2An endorsed copy of the claim shall be served by the claimant on
3the Attorney General or district attorney, as appropriate, within
430 days of the filing of the claim. The Judicial Council shall
5develop and approve official forms for the verified claim that is
6to be filed pursuant to this section. The official forms shall be
7drafted in nontechnical language, in English and in Spanish, and
8shall be made available through the office of the clerk of the
9appropriate court.
10(2) Any person who claims that the property was assigned to
11him or to her prior to the seizure or notification of pending
12forfeiture of the property under this chapter, whichever occurs
last,
13shall file a claim with the court and prosecuting agency pursuant
14to Section 11488.5 declaring an interest in that property and that
15interest shall be adjudicated at the forfeiture hearing. The property
16shall remain under control of the law enforcement or prosecutorial
17agency until the adjudication of the forfeiture hearing. Seized
18property shall be protected and its value shall be preserved pending
19the outcome of the forfeiture proceedings.
20(3) The clerk of the court shall not charge or collect a fee for
21the filing of a claim in any case in which the value of the
22respondent property as specified in the notice is five thousand
23dollars ($5,000) or less. If the value of the property, as specified
24in the notice, is more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), the clerk
25of the court shall charge the filing fee specified in Section
70611
26of the Government Code.
27(4) The claim of a law enforcement agency to property seized
28pursuant to Section 11488 or subject to forfeiture shall have priority
29over a claim to the seized or forfeitable property made by the
30Franchise Tax Board in a notice to withhold issued pursuant to
31Section 18817 or 26132 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
32(b) (1) If at the end of the time set forth in subdivision (a) there
33is no claim on file, the court, upon motion, shall declare the
34property seized or subject to forfeiture pursuant to subdivisions
35(a) to (g), inclusive, of Section 11470 forfeited to the state. In
36moving for a default judgment pursuant to this subdivision, the
37state or local governmental entity shall be required to establish a
38prima facie case in
support of its petition for forfeiture.
P12 1(2) The court shall order the money forfeited or the proceeds
2of the sale of property to be distributed as set forth inbegin delete subdivision begin insert Section 11489.end insert
3(b) of Section 11489.1.end delete
4(c) (1) If a verified claim is filed, the forfeiture proceeding shall
5be set for hearing on a day not less than 30 days therefrom, and
6the proceeding shall have priority over other civil cases. Notice of
7the hearing shall be given in the same manner as provided in
8Section 11488.4. Such a verified claim or a claim filed pursuant
9to subdivision (j) of Section 11488.4 shall not be admissible in the
10proceedings
regarding the underlying or related criminal offense
11set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11488.
12(2) The hearing shall be by jury, unless waived by consent of
13all parties.
14(3) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply
15to proceedings under this chapter unless otherwise inconsistent
16with the provisions or procedures set forth in this chapter. However,
17in proceedings under this chapter, there shall be no joinder of
18actions, coordination of actions, except for forfeiture proceedings,
19or cross-complaints, and the issues shall be limited strictly to the
20questions related to this chapter.
21(d) (1) At the hearing, the state or local governmental entity
22shall have the burden of establishing,
pursuant to subdivision (i)
23of Section 11488.4, that the owner of any interest in the seized
24property consented to the use of the property with knowledge that
25it would be or was used for a purpose for which forfeiture is
26permitted, in accordance with the burden of proof set forth in
27subdivision (i) of Section 11488.4.
28(2) No interest in the seized property shall be affected by a
29forfeiture decree under this section unless the state or local
30governmental entity has proven that the owner of that interest
31consented to the use of the property with knowledge that it would
32be or was used for the purpose charged. Forfeiture shall be ordered
33when, at the hearing, the state or local governmental entity has
34shown that the assets in question are subject to forfeiture pursuant
35to Section 11470, in accordance with the burden of proof set forth
36in
subdivision (i) of Section 11488.4.
37(e) The forfeiture hearing shall be continued upon motion of
38the prosecution or the defendant until after a verdict of guilty on
39any criminal charges specified in this chapter and pending against
40the defendant have been decided. In cases in which the forfeiture
P13 1hearing, or any related civil discovery, is continued or stayed, the
2requirement that the forfeiture case be tried in conjunction with
3the related criminal case or to the same jury as in the related
4criminal case may be waived by the parties. The forfeiture hearing
5shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 190 to 222.5,
6inclusive, Sections 224 to 234, inclusive, Section 237, and Sections
7607 to 630, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure if a trial by
8jury, and by Sections 631 to 636, inclusive, of the Code of Civil
9Procedure if by the court. Unless
the court or jury finds that the
10seized property was used for a purpose for which forfeiture is
11permitted, the court shall order the seized property released to the
12person it determines is entitled thereto.
13If the court or jury finds that the seized property was used for a
14purpose for which forfeiture is permitted, but does not find that a
15person claiming an interest therein, to which the court has
16determined he or she is entitled, had actual knowledge that the
17seized property would be or was used for a purpose for which
18forfeiture is permitted and consented to that use, the court shall
19order the seized property released to the claimant.
20(f) All seized property which was the subject of a contested
21forfeiture hearing and which was not released by the court to a
22claimant shall be declared by the court
to be forfeited to the state,
23provided the burden of proof required pursuant to subdivision (i)
24of Section 11488.4 has been met. The court shall order the forfeited
25property to be distributed as set forth in Section 11489.
26(g) All seized property which was the subject of the forfeiture
27hearing and which was not forfeited shall remain subject to any
28order to withhold issued with respect to the property by the
29Franchise Tax Board.
Section 11488.7 is added to the Health and Safety
31Code, to read:
In any forfeiture proceeding under this chapter in
33which the defendant or claimant substantially prevails, the
34defendant or claimant shall be entitled to recover reasonable
35attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred by
36the defendant or claimant. Any final award of fees and costs shall
37be paid directly to the defendant’s or claimant’s attorney.
Section 11489 of the Health and Safety Code is
39amended to read:
Notwithstanding Section 11502 and except as otherwise
2provided in Section 11473, in all cases where the property is seized
3pursuant to this chapter and forfeited to the state or local
4governmental entity and, where necessary, sold by the Department
5of General Services or local governmental entity, the money
6forfeited or the proceeds of sale shall be distributed by the state
7or local governmental entity as follows:
8(a) To the bona fide or innocent purchaser, conditional sales
9vendor, or mortgagee of the property, if any, up to the amount of
10his or her interest in the property, when the court declaring the
11forfeiture orders a distribution to that person.
12(b) The balance, if any, to accumulate, and to be distributed and
13transferred quarterly in the following manner:
14(1) To the state agency or local governmental entity for all
15expenditures made or incurred by it in connection with the sale of
16the property, including expenditures for any necessary costs of
17notice required by Section 11488.4, and for any necessary repairs,
18storage, or transportation of any property seized under this chapter.
19(2) The remaining funds shall be distributed as follows:
20(A) Forty
percent to the state, local, or state and local law
21enforcement entities that participated in the seizure distributed so
22as to reflect the proportionate contribution of each agency. Fifteen
23percent of the funds distributed pursuant to this subparagraph shall
24be deposited in a special fund maintained by the county, city, or
25city and county of any agency making the seizure or seeking an
26order for forfeiture. This fund shall be used for
the sole purpose
27of funding programs designed to combat drug abuse and divert
28gang activity, and shall wherever possible involve educators,
29parents, community-based organizations and local businesses, and
30uniformed law enforcement officers. Those programs that have
31been evaluated as successful shall be given priority. These funds
32shall not be used to supplant any state or local funds that would,
33in the absence of this clause, otherwise be made available to the
34programs.
35It is the intent of the Legislature to cause the development and
36continuation of positive intervention programs for high-risk
37elementary and secondary schoolage students.
38(B) Twenty-four percent to the General Fund. Notwithstanding
39Section 13340 of the Government Code, the moneys are hereby
40continuously appropriated to the General Fund. Commencing
P15 1January 1, 2016, all moneys deposited in the General Fund pursuant
2to this subparagraph, in an amount not to exceed ten million dollars
3($10,000,000), shall be made available for school safety and
4security, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and shall be
5disbursed pursuant to Senate Bill 1255 of the 1993-94 Regular
6Session, as enacted.
7(C) Thirty-four percent to the State Asset Forfeiture Fund for
8Courts and Criminal Justice Purposes, available upon
appropriation
9by the Legislature for the purposes described in subdivision (b) of
10Section 11489.1.
11(D) One percent to a private nonprofit organization composed
12of local prosecutors, which shall use these funds for the exclusive
13purpose of providing a statewide program of education and training
14for prosecutors and law enforcement officers in ethics and the
15proper use of laws permitting the seizure and forfeiture of assets
16under this chapter.
17(E) One percent to a private nonprofit organization composed
18of local criminal defense attorneys, which shall use these funds
19for the exclusive purpose of providing a statewide program of
20education and training in the use of laws permitting the seizure
21and forfeiture of assets under this chapter.
22(c) Notwithstanding Item 0820-101-469 of the Budget Act of
231985 (Chapter 111, Statutes of 1985), all funds allocated to the
24Department of Justice pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph
25(2) of subdivision (b) shall be deposited into the Department of
26Justice Special Deposit Fund-State Asset Forfeiture Account and
27used for the law enforcement efforts of the state or for state or
28local law
enforcement efforts pursuant to Section 11493.
29All funds allocated to the Department of Justice by the federal
30government under its Federal Asset Forfeiture program authorized
31by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 (Public Law
3298-473) may be deposited directly into the Narcotics Assistance
33and Relinquishment by Criminal Offender Fund and used for state
34and local law enforcement efforts pursuant to Section 11493.
35Funds that are not deposited pursuant to the above paragraph
36shall be deposited into the Department of Justice Special Deposit
37Fund-Federal Asset Forfeiture Account.
38(d) All the funds distributed to the state or local governmental
39entity pursuant to
subparagraph (A)
of paragraph (2) of subdivision
40(b) shall not supplant any state or local funds that would, in the
P16 1absence of this subdivision, be made available to support the law
2enforcement and prosecutorial efforts of these agencies.
3The court shall order the forfeiture proceeds distributed to the
4state, local, or state and local governmental entities as provided in
5this section.
6For the purposes of this section, “local governmental entity”
7means any city, county, or city and county in this state.
Section 11489.1 is added to the Health and Safety
9Code, to read:
(a) All property, moneys, negotiable instruments,
11securities, or other things of value received by any state or local
12law enforcement agency pursuant to any federal law that authorizes
13the sharing or transfer of all or a portion of forfeited property or
14the proceeds from the sale of forfeited property to a state or local
15law enforcement agency shall be deposited into the State Asset
16Forfeiture Fund for Law Enforcement Purposes, which is hereby
17created in the State Treasury. Upon appropriation by the
18Legislature, the moneys in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund for Law
19Enforcement Purposes shall be allocated to law enforcement
20agencies statewide, based on the population of the jurisdiction
21served.
22(b) All property, moneys, negotiable
instruments, securities, or
23other things of value forfeited pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section
2411488.4 and subparagraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11488.5
25shall be distributed as follows:
26(1) To the state agency or local governmental entity for all
27expenditures made or incurred by it in connection with the sale of
28the property, including expenditures for any necessary costs for
29public notice, hearings, or for any necessary repairs, storage, or
30transportation of any property lawfully forfeited.
31(2) The remaining funds shall be distributed as follows:
32(A) Twenty-four percent to the General Fund.
33(B) Seventy-six percent to the State Asset Forfeiture Fund for
34Courts and Criminal Justice Purposes, which is hereby created in
35the State Treasury.
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the
36moneys in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund for Courts and Criminal
37Justice Purposes shall be made available for the purpose of criminal
38and civil court functions, prosecution, public defense and indigent
39defense, law enforcement, crime prevention including after school
P17 1programs for adolescents and drug treatment for adolescents and
2adults, and victim services.
Section 11495 of the Health and Safety Code is
5amended to read:
(a) The funds received by the law enforcement agencies
7under Section 11489 shall be deposited into an account maintained
8by the Controller, county auditor, or city treasurer. These funds
9shall be distributed to the law enforcement agencies at their request.
10The Controller, auditor, or treasurer shall maintain a record of
11these disbursements which records shall be open to public
12inspection, subject to the privileges contained in Sections 1040,
131041, and 1042 of the Evidence Code.
14(b) Upon request of the governing body of the jurisdiction in
15which the distributions are made, the Controller, auditor, or
16treasurer shall conduct an audit of these funds
and their use. In the
17case of the state, the governing body shall be the Legislature.
18(c) Each year, the Attorney General shall publish a report which
19sets forth the following information for the state, each county, each
20city, and each city and county:
21(1) The number of forfeiture actions initiated and administered
22by state or local agencies under California law, the number of cases
23adopted by the federal government, and the number of cases
24initiated by a joint federal-state action that were prosecuted under
25federal law.
26(2) The number of cases and the administrative number or court
27
docket number of each case for which forfeiture was ordered or
28declared.
29(3) The number of suspects charged with a controlled substance
30violation.
31(4) The number of alleged criminal offenses that were under
32federal or state law.
33(5) The disposition of cases, including no charge, dropped
34charges, acquittal, plea agreement, jury conviction, or other.
35(6) The value of the assets forfeited.
36(7) The recipients of the forfeited assets, the amounts received,
37and the date of the disbursement.
38(d) The Attorney General shall
develop administrative guidelines
39for the collection and publication of the information required in
40subdivision (c).
P18 1(e) The Attorney General’s report shall cover the calendar year
2and shall be made no later than March 1 of each year beginning
3with the year after the enactment of this law.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
5this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
6local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
7pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
84 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
O
95