HB427 Summary

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

• Perishable property may be sold immediately without notice if owner cannot be located; proceeds held in separate account for six months, then paid to Sheriff's office after deducting recovery and storage expenses.

• Sheriff may sell or destroy unclaimed firearms after 12 months if owner does not claim them; firearms may only be sold to licensed gun dealers with at least one year of active business license from Geneva County, with sales to highest sealed bidder.

• All other abandoned or stolen personal property must be sold at public auction at least every six months to highest bidder for cash; notice required by newspaper publication once weekly for two weeks or courthouse posting for at least 20 days.

• Auction proceeds after expenses must be paid to Geneva County general fund and used specifically for purchase of new vehicles for the sheriff's office and repair and maintenance of existing sheriff's office vehicles.