CT HB07146

Requires a criminal conviction or guilty plea before civil asset forfeiture proceedings can result in forfeiture of property seized during lawful arrests or searches, effective October 1, 2017

Civil forfeiture hearings must occur no more than two weeks after the underlying criminal proceeding is resolved, with property returned to owners if the criminal case does not result in conviction, guilty plea, nolo contendere plea, or completion of pretrial diversionary program

Applies to forfeiture proceedings under sections 54-33g (general criminal nuisance property), 54-36h (drug-related assets), 54-36o (human trafficking and prostitution assets), and 54-36p (sexual exploitation and trafficking assets)

Modifies notice and hearing procedures to eliminate immediate civil forfeiture hearings, instead requiring them to follow resolution of the related criminal case

Preserves protections for bona fide lienholders, innocent owners, and attorney's fees, while maintaining evidentiary use of forfeited property in criminal trials