Oregon Statutes - Chapter 475A - Civil Forfeiture - Section 475A.120 - Distribution of forfeited property or proceeds by local government.

(1) The provisions of this section apply to a forfeiting agency other than the state.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by intergovernmental agreement and this section, a forfeiting agency may:

(a) Sell, lease, lend or transfer forfeited property to any federal, state or local law enforcement agency or district attorney.

(b) Sell forfeited property by public or other commercially reasonable sale and pay from the proceeds the expenses of keeping and selling the property.

(c) Retain forfeited property.

(d) With written authorization from the district attorney for the county in which the property was seized, destroy any forfeited firearms or controlled substances.

(3) If the forfeiting agency is a political subdivision other than a county, the political subdivision shall enter into an agreement with the county pursuant to ORS chapter 190 to provide a portion of the forfeiture proceeds to the county. Any intergovernmental agreements or ordinances providing for the distribution of forfeiture proceeds in effect on July 24, 1989, shall remain valid unless changed by the parties.

(4) A forfeiting agency shall distribute forfeiture proceeds as follows:

(a) Costs shall be paid first, including costs, disbursements and attorney fees as defined in ORCP 68 A and special expenses, including the provision of lawful currency, incurred by any seizing or forfeiting agency in investigating and prosecuting a specific case. The forfeiting agency may pay expenses of servicing or maintaining the seized property under ORS 475A.045 (3) under the provisions of this paragraph. The forfeiting agency may not pay expenditures made in connection with the ordinary maintenance and operation of the seizing or forfeiting agency under the provisions of this paragraph.

(b) After payment of costs under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the forfeiting agency shall:

(A) Deduct an amount equal to five percent of the proceeds and deposit that amount in the Illegal Drug Cleanup Fund established by ORS 475.495 for the purposes specified in ORS 475.495 (5);

(B) Deduct an amount equal to 2.5 percent of the proceeds and deposit that amount in the Asset Forfeiture Oversight Account established by ORS 475A.160 for the purposes specified in ORS 475A.155;

(C) Deduct an amount equal to 20 percent of the proceeds and deposit that amount in the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission Account established under ORS 137.662 for disbursement to drug court programs as described in ORS 3.450; and

(D) Deduct an amount equal to 10 percent of the proceeds and deposit that amount in the State Commission on Children and Families Account established by ORS 417.733 for disbursement to relief nurseries as described in ORS 417.788.

(c) If the forfeiting agency has entered into an agreement with a county under subsection (3) of this section, after paying costs under paragraph (a) of this subsection and making the deductions required by paragraph (b) of this subsection, the forfeiting agency shall pay the county the amounts required by the agreement.

(d) After making all payments and deductions required by paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection, the forfeiting agency may use forfeiture proceeds, including amounts received by a county under paragraph (c) of this subsection and pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement entered into under ORS 475A.115, only for:

(A) The purchase of equipment necessary for the enforcement of laws relating to the unlawful delivery, distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substances;

(B) Cash for use in law enforcement activities;

(C) Drug awareness and drug education programs offered in middle schools and high schools;

(D) The expenses of a forfeiting agency in operating joint narcotic operations with other forfeiting agencies pursuant to the terms of an intergovernmental agreement, including paying for rental space, utilities and office equipment; and

(E) Expenses of a district attorney in criminal prosecutions for unlawful delivery, distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substances, as determined through intergovernmental agreement between the forfeiting agency and the district attorney.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, growing equipment and laboratory equipment seized by a forfeiting agency that was used, or intended for use, in the manufacturing of controlled substances may be donated to a public school, community college or institution of higher education.

(6) A political subdivision shall sell as much property as may be needed to make the distributions required by subsection (4) of this section. Distributions required under subsection (4)(b) of this section must be made once every three months and are due within 20 days of the end of each quarter. No interest shall accrue on amounts that are paid within the period specified by this subsection.

(7) The forfeiting agency, and any agency which receives forfeited property or proceeds from the sale of forfeited property, shall maintain written documentation of each sale, decision to retain, transfer or other disposition.

(8) Forfeiture counsel shall report each forfeiture to the Asset Forfeiture Oversight Advisory Committee as soon as reasonably possible after the conclusion of forfeiture proceedings, whether or not the forfeiture results in an entry of judgment under ORS 475A.110. The committee shall develop and make available forms for the purpose of reporting forfeitures.

(9) Law enforcement agencies shall supply to forfeiture counsel all information requested by forfeiture counsel necessary for the preparation of the report required by subsection (8) of this section.

(10) Political subdivisions of the state who receive forfeiture proceeds under this section shall submit a report to the Asset Forfeiture Oversight Advisory Committee for any year in which those proceeds are received. The committee shall develop and make available forms for the purpose of those reports. The forms shall require the political subdivision to report on how proceeds received by the political subdivision have been or will be used, and such other information as may be requested by the committee. Reports shall be submitted each December 15 for the last ending fiscal year of the political subdivision.

(11) This section applies only to forfeiture proceeds arising out of prohibited conduct as defined by ORS 475A.005 (11), and does not apply to proceeds from forfeiture based on other conduct. [1989 c.791 §10; 1991 c.276 §2; 1991 c.290 §2; 1991 c.934 §7; 1993 c.552 §1; 1993 c.553 §3; 1993 c.699 §6; 1995 c.79 §389; 1997 c.592 §1; 2001 c.780 §§14,14a; 2005 c.830 §§35,36]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008