HB522 Summary

• Russell County Sheriff shall maintain records of all abandoned and stolen personal property recovered, including description, date of recovery, and serial numbers, with records open to public inspection.

• Perishable abandoned or stolen property may be sold immediately without notice; sale proceeds held for six months for the owner, then transferred to the Sheriff's Office if unclaimed after deducting recovery and storage costs.

• Sheriff may sell or destroy abandoned or stolen firearms if owner does not claim within six months; firearms may only be sold to licensed gun dealers through sealed bid process, with proceeds going to the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Fund.

• Non-firearm abandoned or stolen property unclaimed after six months shall be sold at public auction (including Internet auction) to the highest bidder; notice required by newspaper publication weekly for two weeks or courthouse posting for at least 20 days.

• Auction proceeds, after deducting all recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale expenses, shall be deposited into the Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Fund for law enforcement purposes only, subject to audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.