IL HB3157

Adds Section 36-1.5 to the Criminal Code requiring the State to seek a preliminary determination of probable cause within 14 days of property seizure to establish that property may be subject to forfeiture.

Rules of evidence do not apply to preliminary review proceedings, and the court may conduct the review simultaneously with related criminal proceedings.

Allows courts to accept a finding of probable cause from a preliminary hearing, information/complaint filing, or grand jury indictment as sufficient evidence for forfeiture purposes.

Upon finding probable cause, courts must enter restraining orders or injunctions to prevent seized property from being removed, concealed, destroyed, or disposed of before a forfeiture hearing.

Amends the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act to add identical preliminary review requirements and increases the threshold for non-judicial forfeiture from $20,000 to $150,000 in property value.