SB294 - Property Forfeiture Reform

• Restricts civil asset forfeiture to felony offenses where the property owner has been convicted of the underlying felony, eliminating forfeiture based on suspicion alone.

• Redirects all forfeited property proceeds to the state general fund instead of allowing law enforcement agencies to retain portions of the funds.

• Limits the criminal forfeiture fund to cover only administrative and sale expenses related to seized property, eliminating it as a source of supplemental law enforcement funding.

• Requires the attorney general to adopt rules necessary to implement the Hawaii omnibus criminal forfeiture act and to report to the legislature at least 40 days before each regular session on forfeiture activities.

• Effective July 1, 2021 (note: document contains apparent typo stating "3021").