HB17-1313: Civil Forfeiture Reform

• Establishes biannual reporting requirements for seizing agencies to report seizure and forfeiture data to the Department of Local Affairs, with reports due by June 1 and December 1 of each year starting July 1, 2017.

• Creates a searchable public database maintained by the Department of Local Affairs containing detailed information about each seizure including agency name, seizure date and location, property type and value, criminal case details, and forfeiture proceeding outcomes.

• Requires seizing agencies to report how forfeiture proceeds were expended across nine categories including drug prevention programs, victim services, salaries, professional services, travel, operating expenses, and capital expenditures.

• Limits state and local agencies' ability to accept federal forfeiture proceeds to cases where seized property exceeds $50,000 in aggregate value and a federal forfeiture proceeding relates to a filed criminal case.

• Appropriates $84,451 to the Department of Local Affairs for 2017-18 to implement reporting infrastructure and requires the Executive Director to submit annual summary reports to the Governor and legislature beginning December 31, 2019.