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H. 4368
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Allen, Lee, Rivers, Rutherford, Sinclair, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, Talley and Weeks
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5557cm03.doc
Introduced in the House on June 4, 2003
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Controlled substances, "reasonable time" and "reasonable period of time" defined in relation to seizure, forfeiture and disposition proceedings
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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6/4/2003 House Introduced and read first time HJ-66
6/4/2003 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-67
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-520, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE FORFEITURE OF CERTAIN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND ITEMS RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "REASONABLE TIME" AS IT RELATES TO INSTITUTION OF CERTAIN FORFEITURE AND DISPOSITION PROCEEDINGS TO MEAN A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED SIXTY DAYS, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME" AS IT RELATES TO WHEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT SEIZES CERTAIN PROPERTY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION TO MEAN NOT MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-530, RELATING TO FORFEITURE PROCEDURES FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "REASONABLE TIME PERIOD" AS IT RELATES TO THE FORFEITURE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TO MEAN A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED SIXTY DAYS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 44-53-520(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(c) In the event of seizure pursuant to subsection (b), proceedings under Section 44-53-530 regarding forfeiture and disposition must be instituted within a reasonable time but not more than sixty days."
SECTION 2. Section 44-53-520(j) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(j) When property and monies of any value as defined in this section or anything else of any value is seized, the law enforcement agency making the seizure, within ten days or a reasonable period of time but not more than sixty days after the seizure, shall submit a report to the appropriate prosecution agency.
(1) The report shall provide the following information with respect to the property seized:
(a) description;
(b) circumstances of seizure;
(c) present custodian and where the property is being stored or its location;
(d) name of owner;
(e) name of lienholder, if any;
(f) seizing agency; and
(g) the type and quantity of the controlled substance involved.
(2) If the property is a conveyance, the report shall include the:
(a) make, model, serial number, and year of the conveyance;
(b) person in whose name the conveyance is registered; and
(c) name of any lienholders.
(3) In addition to the report provided for in items (1) and (2), the law enforcement agency shall prepare for dissemination to the public upon request a report providing the following information:
(a) a description of the quantity and nature of the property and money seized;
(b) the seizing agency;
(c) the type and quantity of the controlled substance involved;
(d) the make, model, and year of a conveyance; and
(e) the law enforcement agency responsible for the property or conveyance seized."
SECTION 3. Section 44-53-530(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(a) Forfeiture of property defined in Section 44-53-520 must be accomplished by petition of the Attorney General or his designee or the circuit solicitor or his designee to the court of common pleas for the jurisdiction where the items were seized. The petition must be submitted to the court within a reasonable time period but not more than sixty days following seizure and shall set forth the facts upon which the seizure was made. The petition shall describe the property and include the names of all owners of record and lienholders of record. The petition shall identify any other persons known to the petitioner to have interests in the property. Petitions for the forfeiture of conveyances shall also include: the make, model, and year of the conveyance, the person in whose name the conveyance is registered, and the person who holds the title to the conveyance. The petition shall set forth the type and quantity of the controlled substance involved. A copy of the petition must be sent to each law enforcement agency which has notified the petitioner of its involvement in effecting the seizure. Notice of hearing or rule to show cause must be directed to all persons with interests in the property listed in the petition, including law enforcement agencies which have notified the petitioner of their involvement in effecting the seizure. Owners of record and lienholders of record may be served by certified mail, to the last known address as appears in the records of the governmental agency which records the title or lien.
The judge shall determine whether the property is subject to forfeiture and order the forfeiture confirmed. If the judge finds a forfeiture, he shall then determine the lienholder's interest as provided in this article. The judge shall determine whether any property must be returned to a law enforcement agency pursuant to Section 44-53-582.
If there is a dispute as to the division of the proceeds of forfeited property among participating law enforcement agencies, this issue must be determined by the judge. The proceeds from a sale of property, conveyances, and equipment must be disposed of pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.
All property, conveyances, and equipment which will not be reduced to proceeds may be transferred to the law enforcement agency or agencies or to the prosecution agency. Upon agreement of the law enforcement agency or agencies and the prosecution agency, conveyances and equipment may be transferred to any other appropriate agency. Property transferred must not be used to supplant operating funds within the current or future budgets. If the property seized and forfeited is an aircraft or watercraft and is transferred to a state law enforcement agency or other state agency pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, its use and retainage by that agency shall be at the discretion and approval of the Budget and Control Board."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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