AL SB421

Walker County Sheriff must maintain permanent records of all abandoned and stolen personal property recovered, including description, recovery date, serial numbers, and recovery location, with records open to public inspection.

Perishable abandoned or stolen property may be sold immediately without notice; sale proceeds held in a separate account for 6 months for the owner, with unclaimed funds after expenses paid to the Sheriff's office.

Sheriff may sell or destroy abandoned or stolen firearms not claimed within 6 months; firearms may only be sold to federally licensed gun dealers via highest sealed bid, with proceeds paid to the Sheriff's office after expenses.

Sheriff must conduct public auctions at least every 6 months for unclaimed property other than firearms, with notice published in newspapers once weekly for 2 weeks or posted at courthouse for 20 days prior to sale.

Property owners may claim items at any time before sale by providing proof of ownership and paying reasonable recovery, maintenance, storage, and pro-rata publication costs; auction proceeds after expenses deposited into a Sheriff's Fund for law enforcement purposes.