§2616. Allocation of forfeited property; creation of special funds; reporting

A.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, when property is forfeited under the provisions of this Chapter, the district attorney shall authorize a public sale or a public auction sale conducted by a licensed auctioneer, without appraisal, of that which is not required by law to be destroyed and which is not harmful to the public. The proceeds of any sale and any monies forfeited or obtained by judgment or settlement under this Section shall be deposited in the Special Asset Forfeiture Fund as established herein until disposed of pursuant to court order.

(2) If the property seized is a motor vehicle, the seizing agency may retain use of the motor vehicle for use in the course and scope of undercover surveillance and investigation of violations of the Louisiana Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. All other property forfeited under the provisions of this Chapter shall be sold as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

B. A Special Asset Forfeiture Fund is hereby established within the Special District Attorney Asset Forfeiture Trust Fund. All monies obtained under the provisions of this Chapter shall be deposited in the fund. The court shall ensure the equitable distribution of any forfeited property, or of monies under and subject to the provisions of this Subsection, to the appropriate local, state, or federal law enforcement agency so as to reflect generally the contribution of that agency's participation in any of the activity that led to the seizure or forfeiture of the property or deposit of monies under and subject to the provisions of this Subsection. The office of the district attorney shall administer expenditures from the fund. The fund is subject to public audit. Money in the fund shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

(1) For satisfaction of any bona fide security interest or lien.

(2) Thereafter, for payment of all proper expenses of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs.

(3) The remaining funds shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Sixty percent thereof to the law enforcement agency or agencies making the seizure, such proceeds to be used in drug law enforcement, including but not limited to reward programs established by such agencies.

(b) Twenty percent thereof to the criminal court fund.

(c) Twenty percent thereof to any district attorney's office that employs the attorneys that handle the forfeiture action for the state. This shall be paid into the district attorney's twelve percent fund to be used for public purposes including, but not limited to use for prosecution, rewards, support and continuing legal education in furtherance of this Chapter, and in regard to Chapter 4 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

C. The district attorney may require the appropriate administrative agency to take custody of the property and remove it for disposition in accordance with law, and forward controlled substances to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for disposition.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, each district attorney shall, no later than March first of each year, submit to the governor, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the chief judge and the clerk of court of the judicial district where the district attorney has jurisdiction or, in Orleans Parish, to the chief judge of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and the clerk of that court, a report which lists the total amount of seized funds or estimated value of property seized and the amounts of funds or property distributed to any entity, agency, or fund, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter during the previous calendar year.

Acts 1989, No. 375, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 502, §1; Acts 1992, No. 873, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1334, §1; Acts 1999, No. 986, §1; Acts 2003, No. 356, §1; Acts 2004, No. 400, §1; Acts 2013, No. 348, §1, eff. June 17, 2013.