SB 308 Summary

• Sheriff of Hale County must maintain permanent records of all abandoned, stolen, confiscated, lost, and unclaimed property recovered, including property description, recovery date, identifying numbers, and recovery location, with records open to public inspection.

• Perishable abandoned or stolen property may be sold immediately without notice if owner cannot be located; sale proceeds held in separate account for six months for owner claim, less recovery and storage costs; unclaimed proceeds paid to Sheriff's office after six months.

• Sheriff may sell or destroy abandoned or stolen firearms if owner does not claim within six months; firearms sold only to licensed gun dealers through sealed competitive bidding on cash basis, with proceeds paid to Sheriff's office after expenses deducted.

• At least every six months, sheriff may conduct public or internet auctions for unclaimed abandoned or stolen personal property (except firearms) to highest bidder for cash; notice required by newspaper publication once weekly for two weeks or courthouse posting for at least 20 days.

• Property owners may claim items before sale by providing proof of ownership and paying reasonable recovery, maintenance, and storage expenses; auction proceeds deposited into Sheriff's Fund designated exclusively for law enforcement purposes at sheriff's discretion.