Posted: | December 1, 2022 11:49 AM |
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From: | Senator Sharif Street |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Legal Representation in Forfeiture Proceedings |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation to provide for legal representation in forfeiture proceedings. This bill allows for counsel to be appointed in civil asset forfeiture cases for those without financial means to hire an attorney. Counsel will be mandatory in forfeiture actions involving real property, and a judge will decide whether counsel shall be provided in forfeiture actions involving all other property. Counties will be required to develop procedures and programs to ensure that counsel is available for forfeiture cases. This measure will be funded by a $2.25 increase in civil filing fees, and each county will receive all proceeds from the filing fees generated in that respective county. Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB329