HB 2069 Summary

• Requires criminal conviction of a covered offense before property can be forfeited; eliminates civil forfeiture without conviction and repeals administrative forfeiture proceedings.

• Raises the standard of proof for forfeiture from "preponderance of the evidence" to "beyond a reasonable doubt" in all forfeiture proceedings.

• Requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that property owners had knowledge of and consented to the crime leading to seizure, restoring the presumption of innocence.

• Mandates that seizing law enforcement agencies bear the full cost of safe and secure storage of seized property until forfeiture proceedings conclude.

• Redirects all forfeiture proceeds to the state general revenue fund for public education instead of distributing proceeds to law enforcement agencies involved in seizures.