SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2531        FILED ON: 3/24/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2450

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to forfeiture reform.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2531        FILED ON: 3/24/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2450

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to forfeiture reform.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 47 of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(d) A district attorney or the attorney general may petition the superior court in the name of the commonwealth in the nature of a proceeding in rem to order forfeiture of a conveyance, real property, moneys or other things of value exceeding $250 subject to forfeiture under the provisions of subparagraphs (3), (5), and (7) of subsection (a). Such petition shall be filed in the court having jurisdiction over said conveyance, real property, monies or other things of value or having final jurisdiction over any related criminal proceeding brought under any provision of this chapter. In all such suits where the property is claimed by any person, other than the commonwealth, the commonwealth shall have the burden of proving to the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the property is forfeitable. The owner of said conveyance or real property, or other person claiming thereunder shall have the burden of proof as to all exceptions set forth in subsections (c) and (i).

The court shall order the commonwealth to give notice by certified or registered mail to the owner of said conveyance, real property, moneys or other things of value and to such other persons as appear to have an interest therein, and the court shall promptly, but not less than two weeks after notice, hold a hearing on the petition. A criminal defendant represented by public counsel in any criminal trial related to the violation of this chapter shall be entitled to continued public counsel representation at the hearing on the petition to order a forfeiture. A property owner who is not a criminal defendant shall be entitled to public counsel to the extent that individual satisfies the requirements for indigency under section 2 of chapter 211D. Upon the motion of the owner of said conveyance, real property, moneys or other things of value, the court shall continue the hearing on the petition pending the outcome of any criminal trial related to the violation of this chapter. At such hearing the court shall hear evidence and make conclusions of law, and shall thereupon issue a final order, from which the parties shall have a right of appeal. In all such suits where a final order results in a forfeiture, said final order shall provide for disposition of said conveyance, real property, moneys or any other thing of value by the commonwealth or any subdivision thereof in any manner not prohibited by law, including sale at public auction or by competitive bidding. The proceeds of any such sale may be used to pay the reasonable expenses of storage, maintenance of custody, advertising, and notice, and the balance thereof shall be distributed as further provided in this section.

The final order of the court shall provide that said moneys and the proceeds of any such sale shall be deposited in the general fund. Forfeited property received from another jurisdiction, including the federal government, shall be transferred to the office of the state treasurer, sold by the treasurer or designee, and deposited in the general fund. Proceeds from the sale of forfeited property received from another jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, the federal government, shall be transferred to the office of the state treasurer and deposited in the general fund.

SECTION 2. Said section 47 of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, is amended by striking out in subsection (f)(2), in lines 197-203, the following words:- The office of seized property management may receive initial funding from the special law enforcement trust funds of the attorney general and each district attorney established pursuant to subsection (d) and shall subsequently be funded by a portion of the proceeds of each sale of such managed property to the extent provided as payment of reasonable expenses in subsection (d).

SECTION 3. Said section 47 of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, is amended by striking out subsection (k) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(k) The attorney general, each district attorney and each police department shall file an annual report with the executive office of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing all assets, monies and proceeds from assets seized pursuant to this section. The report shall provide itemized accounting for all assets, monies and proceeds from assets within the following asset categories: cash, personal property, conveyances and real property, including any property disposed of by the office of seized property management. The report shall be filed not later than January 31 for the preceding calendar year and shall be a public record.