Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB1111 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb1111
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 1111
8	8	E1, E2 4lr1863
9	9	CF HB 1063
10	10	By: Senator Muse
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2024
12	12	Assigned to: Rules
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Criminal Organizations – Criminal Prohibitions, Civil Actions, and Forfeiture 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of establishing the statute of limitations for a certain civil action for 3
21	21	damages resulting from certain participation in a criminal organization; altering 4
22	22	certain definitions of “criminal organization” and “underlying crime”; authorizing the 5
23	23	filing of and establishing procedures for a civil action for injunctive relief and 6
24	24	damages arising out of certain participation in a criminal organization; establishing 7
25	25	procedures for the forfeiture of property connected to certain participation in a 8
26	26	criminal organization; and generally relating to criminal organizations. 9
27	27
28	28	BY adding to 10
29	29	Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11
30	30	Section 5–122 12
31	31	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
32	32	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
33	33
34	34	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
35	35	Article – Criminal Law 16
36	36	Section 9–801 17
37	37	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
38	38	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
39	39
40	40	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 20
41	41	Article – Criminal Law 21
42	42	Section 9–804 22
43	43	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
44	44	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 24
45	45
46	46	BY adding to 25
47	47	Article – Criminal Law 26
48	48	Section 9–808 27 2 SENATE BILL 1111
49	49
50	50
51	51	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52	52	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 2
53	53
54	54	BY adding to 3
55	55	Article – Criminal Procedure 4
56	56	Section 13–601 through 13–637 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6. Violations 5
57	57	of the Criminal Organizations Law” 6
58	58	Annotated Code of Maryland 7
59	59	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 8
60	60
61	61	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
62	62	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 10
63	63
64	64	Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 11
65	65
66	66	5–122. 12
67	67
68	68	A CIVIL ACTION FOR DAM AGES RESULTING FROM PARTICIPATION IN A 13
69	69	CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIO N BROUGHT UNDER § 9–808 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 14
70	70	ARTICLE SHALL BE BROU GHT WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER THE COND UCT IN VIOLATION 15
71	71	OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE TERMINATES . 16
72	72
73	73	Article – Criminal Law 17
74	74
75	75	9–801. 18
76	76
77	77	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
78	78
79	79	(b) “Coerce” means to compel or attempt to compel another by threat of harm or 20
80	80	other adverse consequences. 21
81	81
82	82	(c) “Criminal organization” means an enterprise, INCLUDING AN INFORMA L 22
83	83	ASSOCIATION, whose members: 23
84	84
85	85	(1) individually or collectively engage in a pattern of organized crime 24
86	86	activity; 25
87	87
88	88	(2) have as one of their primary objectives or activities the commission of 26
89	89	one or more underlying crimes, including acts by juveniles that would be underlying crimes 27
90	90	if committed by adults; and 28
91	91
92	92	(3) have in common an overt or covert organizational or command 29
93	93	structure. 30
94	94
95	95	(d) “Enterprise” includes: 31
96	96	SENATE BILL 1111 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	(1) a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, business trust, or other 1
100	100	legal entity; or 2
101	101
102	102	(2) any group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity. 3
103	103
104	104	(e) “Pattern of organized crime activity” means the commission of, attempted 4
105	105	commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of two or more underlying crimes or 5
106	106	acts by a juvenile that would be an underlying crime if committed by an adult, provided the 6
107	107	crimes or acts were not part of the same incident. 7
108	108
109	109	(f) “Solicit” has the meaning stated in § 11–301 of this article. 8
110	110
111	111	(g) “Underlying crime” means: 9
112	112
113	113	(1) a crime of violence as defined under § 14–101 of this article; 10
114	114
115	115	(2) a violation of § 3–203 (second degree assault), § 3–1102 (sex trafficking), 11
116	116	§ 3–1103 (forced marriage), § 4–203 (wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun), § 12
117	117	4–204 (USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME), § 13
118	118	7–113 (embezzlement by fiduciary), or § 7–315 (theft – telecommunications–related) of this 14
119	119	article, § 9–102 (subornation of perjury), § 9–202(a) (bribery of juror), § 9–302 (inducing 15
120	120	false testimony or avoidance of subpoena), § 9–303 (retaliation for testimony), § 9–305 16
121	121	(intimidating or corrupting juror), § 9–306 (obstruction of justice), § 9–307 (destruction of 17
122	122	evidence), § 9–412 (CONTRABAND – IN GENERAL), § 9–413 (contraband – for escape), § 18
123	123	9–416 (contraband – controlled dangerous substance), or § 9–417 (contraband – 19
124	124	telecommunications–related) of this title, or § 11–304 (receiving earnings of prostitute), § 20
125	125	11–307 (house of prostitution), or § 12–104 (gaming offenses) of this article; 21
126	126
127	127	(3) a felony violation of § 3–701 (extortion), § 4–503 (manufacture or 22
128	128	possession of destructive device), § 5–602 (distribution of CDS), § 5–603 (manufacturing 23
129	129	CDS or equipment), § 5–604(b) (creating or possessing a counterfeit substance), § 5–606 24
130	130	(false prescription), § 6–103 (second degree arson), § 6–202 (first degree burglary), § 6–203 25
131	131	(second degree burglary), § 6–204 (third degree burglary), § 7–104 (theft), or § 7–105 26
132	132	(unauthorized use of a motor vehicle) of this article; 27
133	133
134	134	(4) a felony violation of § 5–133 of the Public Safety Article; 28
135	135
136	136	(5) THE COMMON LAW MISDE MEANOR OF MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE; 29
137	137
138	138	(6) FRAUD AND RELATED CR IMES UNDER TITLE 8 OF THIS ARTICLE; 30
139	139
140	140	(7) BRIBERY UNDER SUBTITLE 2 OF THIS TITLE; 31
141	141
142	142	(8) FALSE STATEMENTS UND ER SUBTITLE 5 OF THIS TITLE; 32
143	143	4 SENATE BILL 1111
144	144
145	145
146	146	(9) IMPERSONATING A POLI CE OFFICER UNDER § 3–502 OF THE 1
147	147	PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE; 2
148	148
149	149	(10) THREAT OF MASS VIOLE NCE UNDER TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 10 OF 3
150	150	THIS ARTICLE; 4
151	151
152	152	(11) INDECENCY AND OBSCEN ITY UNDER TITLE 11, SUBTITLE 1 OR 5
153	153	SUBTITLE 2 OF THIS ARTICLE; 6
154	154
155	155	(12) INSURANCE FRAUD UNDE R TITLE 27, SUBTITLE 4 OF THE 7
156	156	INSURANCE ARTICLE; 8
157	157
158	158	(13) A VIOLATION OF THE MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 9
159	159	UNDER TITLE 13 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE; 10
160	160
161	161	(14) REMOVAL OR FALSIFICA TION OF VEHICLE IDEN TIFICATION 11
162	162	NUMBER UNDER § 14–107 OF THE TRANSPORTATION ARTICLE; 12
163	163
164	164	(15) ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF A VULNERABLE ADULT U NDER § 3–604 OR 13
165	165	§ 3–605 OF THIS ARTICLE; 14
166	166
167	167	[(5)] (16) a crime under the laws of another state or of the United States 15
168	168	that would be a crime listed in items (1) through [(4)] (15) of this subsection if committed 16
169	169	in this State; or 17
170	170
171	171	[(6)] (17) the attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or 18
172	172	solicitation of a crime or act listed in items (1) through [(5)] (16) of this subsection. 19
173	173
174	174	9–804. 20
175	175
176	176	(a) A person may not: 21
177	177
178	178	(1) participate in a criminal organization knowing that the members of the 22
179	179	criminal organization engage in a pattern of organized crime activity; and 23
180	180
181	181	(2) knowingly and willfully direct or participate in an underlying crime, or 24
182	182	act by a juvenile that would be an underlying crime if committed by an adult, committed 25
183	183	for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization. 26
184	184
185	185	(b) A criminal organization or an individual belonging to a criminal organization 27
186	186	may not: 28
187	187
188	188	(1) receive proceeds known to have been derived directly or indirectly from 29
189	189	an underlying crime; and 30
190	190	SENATE BILL 1111 5
191	191
192	192
193	193	(2) use or invest, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of $10,000 or more of 1
194	194	the proceeds from an underlying crime in: 2
195	195
196	196	(i) the acquisition of a title to, right to, interest in, or equity in real 3
197	197	property; or 4
198	198
199	199	(ii) the establishment or operation of any enterprise. 5
200	200
201	201	(c) A criminal organization may not acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, 6
202	202	any interest in or control of any enterprise or real property through an underlying crime. 7
203	203
204	204	(d) A person may not conspire to violate subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section. 8
205	205
206	206	(e) A person may not violate subsection (a) of this section that results in the death 9
207	207	of a victim. 10
208	208
209	209	(f) (1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a 11
210	210	person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to 12
211	211	imprisonment not exceeding 15 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000,000 or both. 13
212	212
213	213	(ii) A person who violates subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a 14
214	214	felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 25 years or a fine not 15
215	215	exceeding $5,000,000 or both. 16
216	216
217	217	(2) (i) A sentence imposed under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection for 17
218	218	a first offense may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for 18
219	219	any crime based on the act establishing a violation of this section. 19
220	220
221	221	(ii) A sentence imposed under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection for 20
222	222	a second or subsequent offense, or paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall be separate from 21
223	223	and consecutive to a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing a violation of this 22
224	224	section. 23
225	225
226	226	(iii) A consecutive sentence for a second or subsequent offense shall 24
227	227	not be mandatory unless the State notifies the person in writing of the State’s intention to 25
228	228	proceed against the person as a second or subsequent offender at least 30 days before trial. 26
229	229
230	230	(3) In addition to the other penalties provided in this subsection, on 27
231	231	conviction the court may: 28
232	232
233	233	(i) order a person or criminal organization to be divested of any 29
234	234	interest in an enterprise or real property; 30
235	235
236	236	(ii) order the dissolution or reorganization of an enterprise; and 31
237	237	6 SENATE BILL 1111
238	238
239	239
240	240	(iii) order the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or prior 1
241	241	approval granted to the enterprise or person by a unit of the State or a political subdivision 2
242	242	of the State. 3
243	243
244	244	(g) (1) This subsection applies to a violation of § 5–602, § 5–603, § 5–604(b), § 4
245	245	5–606, § 5–612, § 5–613, § 5–614, or § 5–617 of this article. 5
246	246
247	247	(2) Assets divested under this section and derived from the commission of, 6
248	248	attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of a crime described in 7
249	249	paragraph (1) of this subsection, either in whole or in part: 8
250	250
251	251	(i) if the State investigated and prosecuted a violation described in 9
252	252	paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall be deposited in the Addiction Treatment Divestiture 10
253	253	Fund established under § 8–6D–01 of the Health – General Article; or 11
254	254
255	255	(ii) if a local jurisdiction investigated and prosecuted a violation 12
256	256	described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall be used by the local jurisdiction: 13
257	257
258	258	1. to support alternatives to incarceration, reentry programs, 14
259	259	and addiction treatment services for persons with substance–related disorders; 15
260	260
261	261	2. to combat criminal organizations through education, 16
262	262	training, and resources; or 17
263	263
264	264	3. to provide assistance to victims of criminal 18
265	265	organization–related crimes; and 19
266	266
267	267	(iii) if more than one jurisdiction participated in an investigation or 20
268	268	a prosecution of a violation described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall be divided 21
269	269	in the manner agreed on by the jurisdictions and used as provided in item (i) or (ii) of this 22
270	270	paragraph. 23
271	271
272	272	(h) A person may be charged with a violation of this section only by indictment, 24
273	273	criminal information, or petition alleging a delinquent act. 25
274	274
275	275	(i) (1) The Attorney General, at the request of the Governor or the State’s 26
276	276	Attorney for a county in which a violation or an act establishing a violation of this section 27
277	277	occurs, may: 28
278	278
279	279	(i) aid in the investigation of the violation or act; and 29
280	280
281	281	(ii) prosecute the violation or act. 30
282	282
283	283	(2) In exercising authority under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the 31
284	284	Attorney General has all the powers and duties of a State’s Attorney, including the use of 32
285	285	the grand jury in the county, to prosecute the violation. 33
286	286	SENATE BILL 1111 7
287	287
288	288
289	289	(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in circumstances in which 1
290	290	violations of this section are alleged to have been committed in more than one county, the 2
291	291	respective State’s Attorney of each county, or the Attorney General, may join the causes of 3
292	292	action in a single complaint with the consent of each State’s Attorney having jurisdiction 4
293	293	over an offense sought to be joined. 5
294	294
295	295	(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and provided at least one criminal 6
296	296	organization activity of a criminal organization allegedly occurred in the county in which a 7
297	297	grand jury is sitting, the grand jury may issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, and 8
298	298	otherwise conduct an investigation of the alleged criminal organization’s activities and 9
299	299	offenses in other counties. 10
300	300
301	301	9–808. 11
302	302
303	303	(A) AN AGGRIEVED PERSON O R THE STATE MAY FILE A COMP LAINT IN 12
304	304	CIRCUIT COURT TO ENJ OIN A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
305	305
306	306	(B) A COURT MAY, AFTER MAKING DUE PRO VISIONS FOR THE RIGH TS OF 14
307	307	INNOCENT PERSONS , GRANT A COMPLAINT FI LED UNDER SUBSECT ION (A) OF THIS 15
308	308	SECTION BY ISSUING A PPROPRIATE ORDERS AN D JUDGMENTS , INCLUDING: 16
309	309
310	310	(1) ORDERING A DEFENDANT TO DIVEST ANY INTERE ST IN AN 17
311	311	ENTERPRISE, REAL PROPERTY , OR PERSONAL PROPERTY ; 18
312	312
313	313	(2) IMPOSING REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FUTURE 19
314	314	ACTIVITIES OR IN VESTMENTS OF A DEFEN DANT, INCLUDING PROHIBITIN G THE 20
315	315	DEFENDANT FROM ENGAG ING IN THE SAME TYPE OF ENDEAVOR AS THE 21
316	316	ENTERPRISE IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT WAS EN GAGED IN VIOLATION O F § 9–804 OF 22
317	317	THIS SUBTITLE; 23
318	318
319	319	(3) ORDERING THE DISSOLU TION OR REORGANIZATI ON OF AN 24
320	320	ENTERPRISE; 25
321	321
322	322	(4) ORDERING THE SUSPENS ION OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE, 26
323	323	PERMIT, OR PRIOR APPROVAL GR ANTED TO AN ENTERPRI SE BY A STATE AGENCY ; 27
324	324	AND 28
325	325
326	326	(5) ORDERING THE FORFEIT URE OF THE CHARTER O F A 29
327	327	CORPORATION ORGANIZE D UNDER STATE LAW , OR THE REVOCATION OF 30
328	328	AUTHORIZATION FOR A FOREIGN CORPORATION TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE 31
329	329	STATE, ON A FINDING THAT : 32
330	330
331	331	(I) THE BOARD OF DIRECTO RS OR A MANAGERIAL A GENT 33
332	332	ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE CORPORATION , IN CONDUCTING AFFAIR S OF THE 34 8 SENATE BILL 1111
333	333
334	334
335	335	CORPORATION , HAS AUTHORIZED OR EN GAGED IN CONDUCT IN VIOLATION OF § 1
336	336	9–804 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 2
337	337
338	338	(II) FOR THE PREVENTION O F FUTURE CRIMINAL A CTIVITY, THE 3
339	339	PUBLIC INTEREST REQU IRES THAT THE CHARTE R OF THE CORPORATION BE 4
340	340	FORFEITED AND THAT T HE CORPORATION BE DI SSOLVED OR ITS AUTHO RIZATION 5
341	341	TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE STATE BE REVOKED . 6
342	342
343	343	(C) (1) IN AN ACTION UNDER TH IS SECTION, THE COURT SHALL GRAN T 7
344	344	RELIEF IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PRINCIPLES THAT GOVERN THE GRAN TING OF 8
345	345	INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FR OM THREATENED LOSS O R DAMAGE IN OTHER CI VIL CASES, 9
346	346	IF NO SHOWING OF SPE CIAL OR IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE PLAINT IFF IS MADE. 10
347	347
348	348	(2) ON THE EXECUTION OF P ROPER BOND AGAI NST DAMAGES FOR AN 11
349	349	INJUNCTION IMPROVIDE NTLY GRANTED AND A S HOWING OF IMMEDIATE DANGER OF 12
350	350	SIGNIFICANT LOSS OR DAMAGE, THE COURT MAY ISSUE A TEMPORARY RESTRAIN ING 13
351	351	ORDER AND A PRELIMIN ARY INJUNCTION BEFOR E A FINAL DETERMINAT ION ON THE 14
352	352	MERITS. 15
353	353
354	354	(D) A PERSON WHO IS INJURED AS A R ESULT OF A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF 16
355	355	THIS SUBTITLE: 17
356	356
357	357	(1) HAS A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST THE V IOLATOR FOR 18
358	358	THREE TIMES THE ACTU AL DAMAGES SUSTAINED AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE , 19
359	359	PUNITIVE DAMAGES ; AND 20
360	360
361	361	(2) IS ENTITLED TO RECOV ER ATTORNEY ’S FEES IN THE TRIAL AND 21
362	362	APPELLATE COURTS AND COSTS OF INVESTIGATI ON AND LITIGATION RE ASONABLY 22
363	363	INCURRED. 23
364	364
365	365	(E) THE PLAINTIFF OR DEFE NDANT MAY DEMAND A J URY TRIAL IN ANY 24
366	366	CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION . 25
367	367
368	368	(F) A CRIMINAL CONVICTION FOR A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THIS 26
369	369	SUBTITLE SHALL ESTOP THE DEFENDANT IN ANY SUBSEQUENT CIVIL ACT ION UNDER 27
370	370	THIS SUBTITLE OR CIV IL FORFEITURE PROCEE DING UNDER TITLE 13, SUBTITLE 6 28
371	371	OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE AS TO ALL MAT TERS PROVED IN THE 29
372	372	CRIMINAL PROCEEDING . 30
373	373
374	374	(G) (1) THE APPLICATION OF ON E CIVIL REMEDY UNDER THIS SECTION 31
375	375	DOES NOT PRECLUDE TH E APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER CIVIL OR CRIMI NAL REMEDY 32
376	376	FOR A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 33
377	377	SENATE BILL 1111 9
378	378
379	379
380	380	(2) CIVIL REMEDIES UNDER THIS SECTION ARE SUP PLEMENTAL TO 1
381	381	ANY OTHER REMEDY AVA ILABLE. 2
382	382
383	383	Article – Criminal Procedure 3
384	384
385	385	SUBTITLE 6. VIOLATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW. 4
386	386
387	387	13–601. 5
388	388
389	389	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 6
390	390	INDICATED. 7
391	391
392	392	(B) “CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFIC ER” MEANS: 8
393	393
394	394	(1) FOR BALTIMORE CITY, THE MAYOR; 9
395	395
396	396	(2) FOR A CHARTER COUNTY , THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR, IF THERE 10
397	397	IS NO COUNTY EXECUTI VE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL ; 11
398	398
399	399	(3) FOR A CODE COUNTY , THE COUNTY COMMISSIO NERS; 12
400	400
401	401	(4) FOR A COMMISSION COU NTY, THE COUNTY COMMISSIO NERS; OR 13
402	402
403	403	(5) FOR A MUNICIPAL CORP ORATION, THE LEGISLATIVE BODY 14
404	404	ESTABLISHED BY MUNIC IPAL CHARTER. 15
405	405
406	406	(C) “CONVICTED” MEANS FOUND GUILTY . 16
407	407
408	408	(D) “CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW ” MEANS TITLE 9, SUBTITLE 8 OF THE 17
409	409	CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 18
410	410
411	411	(E) “FINAL DISPOSITION ” MEANS DISMISSAL , ENTRY OF A NOLLE 19
412	412	PROSEQUI, MARKING OF A CRIMINAL CHAR GE “STET” ON THE DOCKET , ENTRY OF A 20
413	413	NOT GUILTY VERDICT , PRONOUNCEMENT OF SEN TENCE, OR IMPOSITION OF 21
414	414	PROBATION UNDER § 6–220 OF THIS ARTICLE. 22
415	415
416	416	(F) “FORFEITING AUTHORITY ” MEANS: 23
417	417
418	418	(1) THE UNIT OR PERSON D ESIGNATED BY AGREEME NT BETWEEN THE 24
419	419	STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR A COUNTY AND THE CHIEF EXECUT IVE OFFICER OF THE 25
420	420	GOVERNING BODY HAVIN G JURISDICTION OVER ASSETS SUBJECT TO FO RFEITURE 26
421	421	TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY R EGARDING THOSE ASSET S; OR 27
422	422	10 SENATE BILL 1111
423	423
424	424
425	425	(2) IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A UNIT OF TH E STATE, A UNIT OR 1
426	426	PERSON THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DESIGNEE 2
427	427	DESIGNATES BY AGREEM ENT WITH A STATE’S ATTORNEY, COUNTY ATTORNEY , OR 3
428	428	MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY T O ACT ON BEHALF OF T HE STATE REGARDING ASSET S 4
429	429	SUBJECT TO FORFEITUR E BY THE STATE. 5
430	430
431	431	(G) “GOVERNING BODY ” INCLUDES: 6
432	432
433	433	(1) THE STATE, IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A UNIT OF THE STATE; 7
434	434
435	435	(2) A COUNTY, IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A UNIT OF A COUNTY; 8
436	436
437	437	(3) A MUNICIPAL CORPORAT ION, IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A 9
438	438	UNIT OF A MUNICIPALI TY; AND 10
439	439
440	440	(4) BALTIMORE CITY, IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS THE BALTIMORE 11
441	441	POLICE DEPARTMENT . 12
442	442
443	443	(H) “LIEN” INCLUDES A MORTGAGE , A DEED OF TRUST , A PLEDGE, A 13
444	444	SECURITY INTEREST , AN ENCUMBRANCE , AND A RIGHT OF SETOF F. 14
445	445
446	446	(I) “LIENHOLDER” MEANS A PERSON WHO H AS A LIEN OR A SECURED 15
447	447	INTEREST ON PROPERTY CREATED BEFORE THE S EIZURE. 16
448	448
449	449	(J) “LOCAL FINANCIAL AUTHO RITY” MEANS: 17
450	450
451	451	(1) IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A UNIT OF A COUNTY, THE 18
452	452	TREASURER OR DIRECTO R OF FINANCE OF THE COUNTY; OR 19
453	453
454	454	(2) IF THE SEIZING AUTHO RITY IS A UNIT OF A MUNICIPAL 20
455	455	CORPORATION , THE TREASURER OR DIR ECTOR OF FINANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL 21
456	456	CORPORATION . 22
457	457
458	458	(K) (1) “OWNER” MEANS A PERSON HAVIN G A LEGAL, EQUITABLE, OR 23
459	459	POSSESSORY INTEREST IN PROPERTY. 24
460	460
461	461	(2) “OWNER” INCLUDES: 25
462	462
463	463	(I) A CO–OWNER; 26
464	464
465	465	(II) A LIFE TENANT; 27
466	466
467	467	(III) A REMAINDERMAN TO A LIFE TENANCY IN REAL PROPERTY; 28 SENATE BILL 1111 11
468	468
469	469
470	470
471	471	(IV) A HOLDER OF AN INCHO ATE INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY; 1
472	472	AND 2
473	473
474	474	(V) A BONA FIDE PURCHASE R FOR VALUE. 3
475	475
476	476	(L) “PROCEEDS” MEANS PROFITS DERIVE D FROM A VIOLATION O F THE 4
477	477	CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW OR PROPERTY OBTAINED DIRECTLY OR 5
478	478	INDIRECTLY FROM THOS E PROFITS. 6
479	479
480	480	(M) (1) “PROPERTY” INCLUDES: 7
481	481
482	482	(I) REAL PROPERTY AND AN YTHING GROWING ON OR 8
483	483	ATTACHED TO REAL PRO PERTY; 9
484	484
485	485	(II) MOTOR VEHICLES ; AND 10
486	486
487	487	(III) MONEY. 11
488	488
489	489	(2) “PROPERTY” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 12
490	490
491	491	(I) AN ITEM UNLAWFULLY I N THE POSSESSION OF A PERSON 13
492	492	OTHER THAN THE OWNER WHEN USED IN CONNECT ION WITH A VIOLATION OF THE 14
493	493	CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW ; OR 15
494	494
495	495	(II) A LESSOR’S INTEREST IN PROPER TY SUBJECT TO A BONA 16
496	496	FIDE LEASE, UNLESS THE FORFEITIN G AUTHORITY CAN SHOW T HAT THE LESSOR 17
497	497	PARTICIPATED IN A VI OLATION OF THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW OR THAT 18
498	498	THE PROPERTY WAS THE PROCEEDS OF A VIOLAT ION OF THE CRIMINAL 19
499	499	ORGANIZATIONS LAW . 20
500	500
501	501	(N) (1) “REAL PROPERTY ” MEANS LAND OR AN IMP ROVEMENT TO LAND . 21
502	502
503	503	(2) “REAL PROPERTY ” INCLUDES: 22
504	504
505	505	(I) A LEASEHOLD OR ANY O THER LIMITED INTERES T IN 23
506	506	PROPERTY; 24
507	507
508	508	(II) AN EASEMENT ; AND 25
509	509
510	510	(III) A REVERSIONARY INTER EST IN A 99–YEAR GROUND LEASE 26
511	511	RENEWABLE FOREVER . 27
512	512	12 SENATE BILL 1111
513	513
514	514
515	515	(O) “SEIZING AUTHORITY ” MEANS A LAW ENFORCEM ENT UNIT IN THE 1
516	516	STATE THAT IS AUTHORI ZED TO INVESTIGATE V IOLATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL 2
517	517	ORGANIZATIONS LAW AND THAT HAS SEIZED PROP ERTY UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE. 3
518	518
519	519	13–602. 4
520	520
521	521	THE FOLLOWING ARE SUB JECT TO FORFEITURE : 5
522	522
523	523	(1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 13–603 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A MOTOR 6
524	524	VEHICLE USED IN CONNECTIO N WITH A VIOLATION O F AND CONVICTION UND ER § 7
525	525	9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 8
526	526
527	527	(2) MONEY USED IN CONNEC TION WITH A VIOLATIO N OF AND 9
528	528	CONVICTION UNDER THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW , FOUND IN CLOSE 10
529	529	PROXIMITY TO OR AT T HE SCENE OF THE ARREST FOR A VIOLATI ON OF THE 11
530	530	CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW ; AND 12
531	531
532	532	(3) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 13–603 OF THIS SUBTITLE , REAL 13
533	533	PROPERTY USED IN CON NECTION WITH A VIOLA TION OF AND CONVICTI ON UNDER § 14
534	534	9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 15
535	535
536	536	13–603. 16
537	537
538	538	(A) PROPERTY OR AN INTEREST IN PROPE RTY DESCRIBED IN § 13–602(1) 17
539	539	OR (3) OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE FORFEITED IF THE OWNER ESTABLISHE S BY 18
540	540	A PREPONDERANCE OF T HE EVIDENCE THAT THE VIOLATION OF THE CRIMINAL 19
541	541	ORGANIZATIONS LAW WAS COMMITTED WITHOUT TH E OWNER ’S ACTUAL 20
542	542	KNOWLED GE. 21
543	543
544	544	(B) (1) A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR HI RE IN THE TRANSACTIO N OF BUSINESS 22
545	545	AS A COMMON CARRIER OR A MOTOR VEHICLE F OR HIRE MAY NOT BE S EIZED OR 23
546	546	FORFEITED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE UNLESS IT A PPEARS THAT THE OWNE R OR OTHER 24
547	547	PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WA S A CONSENTING PARTY OR P RIVY 25
548	548	TO A VIOLATION OF TH E CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW . 26
549	549
550	550	(2) A MOTOR VEHICLE MAY NO T BE FORFEITED UNDER THIS 27
551	551	SUBTITLE FOR AN ACT OR OMISSION THAT THE OWNER SHOWS WAS COMM ITTED OR 28
552	552	OMITTED BY A PERSON OTHER THAN THE OWNER WHILE THE PERSON OTHER THAN 29
553	553	THE OWNER POSSESSED THE MOTOR VEHICLE IN CRIMINAL VIOLATION O F FEDERAL 30
554	554	LAW OR THE LAW OF AN Y STATE. 31
555	555
556	556	(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, REAL PROPERTY USED 32
557	557	AS THE PRINCIPAL FAM ILY RESIDENCE MAY NO T BE FORFEITED UNDER THIS 33 SENATE BILL 1111 13
558	558
559	559
560	560	SUBTITLE UNLESS ONE OF T HE OWNERS OF THE REA L PROPERTY WAS CONVI CTED 1
561	561	OF A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE OR OF AN ATTE MPT OR 2
562	562	CONSPIRACY TO VIOLAT E § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 3
563	563
564	564	(D) REAL PROPERTY USED AS THE PRINCIPAL FAMILY RESIDENCE BY 4
565	565	SPOUSES AND HELD BY THE SPOUSES AS TENAN TS BY THE ENTIRETY M AY NOT BE 5
566	566	FORFEITED UNLESS : 6
567	567
568	568	(1) THE PROPERTY WAS USE D IN CONNECTION WITH A VIOLATION OF 7
569	569	§ 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE OR WITH AN AT TEMPT OR A CONSPIRAC Y 8
570	570	TO VIOLATE § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; AND 9
571	571
572	572	(2) BOTH SPOUSES ARE CON VICTED OF A VIOLATIO N OF § 9–804 OF 10
573	573	THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE OR OF AN ATTE MPT OR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE § 11
574	574	9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 12
575	575
576	576	13–604. 13
577	577
578	578	PERSONAL PROPERTY SUB JECT TO FORFEITURE U NDER THIS SUBT ITLE MAY 14
579	579	BE SEIZED: 15
580	580
581	581	(1) ON A WARRANT ISSUED BY A COURT THAT HAS JURISDICTION 16
582	582	OVER THE PROPERTY ; AND 17
583	583
584	584	(2) WITHOUT A WARRANT WH EN: 18
585	585
586	586	(I) THE SEIZURE IS INCID ENT TO AN ARREST OR A SEARCH 19
587	587	UNDER A SEARCH WARRA NT; 20
588	588
589	589	(II) THE SEIZURE IS INCID ENT TO AN IN SPECTION UNDER AN 21
590	590	ADMINISTRATIVE INSPE CTION WARRANT ; 22
591	591
592	592	(III) THE PROPERTY SUBJECT TO SEIZURE HAS BEEN THE 23
593	593	SUBJECT OF A PRIOR J UDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE STATE IN A CRIMINAL 24
594	594	INJUNCTION OR FORFEI TURE PROCEEDING UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE; OR 25
595	595
596	596	(IV) THERE IS PROBAB LE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE 26
597	597	PROPERTY IS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DANGER OUS TO HEALTH OR SAF ETY. 27
598	598
599	599	13–605. 28
600	600
601	601	(A) A SEIZING AUTHORITY TH AT SEIZES MONEY UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE 29
602	602	IMMEDIATELY SHALL : 30 14 SENATE BILL 1111
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	(1) PHOTOGRAPH THE MONEY AND RECORD THE QUANT ITY OF EACH 1
607	607	DENOMINATION OF COIN OR CURRENCY SEIZED ; AND 2
608	608
609	609	(2) DEPOSIT THE MONEY TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE A PPROPRIATE 3
610	610	LOCAL FINANCIAL AUTH ORITY. 4
611	611
612	612	(B) A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN UND ER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY 5
613	613	BE SUBSTITUTED FOR M ONEY AS EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL OR FORFE ITURE 6
614	614	PROCEEDING . 7
615	615
616	616	13–606. 8
617	617
618	618	(A) PROPERTY SEIZED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE: 9
619	619
620	620	(1) IS NOT REPLEVIABLE ; BUT 10
621	621
622	622	(2) IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SEIZING AUTHORIT Y, SUBJECT ONLY 11
623	623	TO THE ORDERS , JUDGMENTS , AND DECREES OF THE C OURT OR THE OFFICIAL 12
624	624	HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PROPERTY . 13
625	625
626	626	(B) A SEIZING AUTHORITY MA Y PLACE SEIZED PROPE RTY UNDER SEAL AND 14
627	627	REMOVE THE PROPERTY TO A PLACE DESIGNATE D BY THE COURT . 15
628	628
629	629	13–607. 16
630	630
631	631	(A) A SEIZING AUTHORITY MA Y SEIZE A MOTOR VEHI CLE USED IN 17
632	632	VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE AND RECOMMEND 18
633	633	FORFEITURE TO THE FO RFEITING AUTHORITY I F THE TOTAL CIRCUMST ANCES OF 19
634	634	THE CASE AS LISTED I N SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION DICT ATE THAT SEIZURE 20
635	635	AND FORFEITURE ARE J USTIFIED. 21
636	636
637	637	(B) CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE C ONSIDERED IN DECIDIN G WHETHER SEIZURE 22
638	638	AND FORFEITURE ARE JUSTI FIED INCLUDE: 23
639	639
640	640	(1) EVIDENCE THAT THE MO TOR VEHICLE WAS ACQU IRED BY USE OF 24
641	641	PROCEEDS FROM A TRAN SACTION INVOLVING A VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THE 25
642	642	CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 26
643	643
644	644	(2) THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ARREST; AND 27
645	645
646	646	(3) THE WAY IN WHICH THE MOTOR VEHICLE WA S USED. 28
647	647	SENATE BILL 1111 15
648	648
649	649
650	650	13–608. 1
651	651
652	652	(A) THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCE MENT OFFICER OF THE SEIZING AUTHORITY 2
653	653	THAT SEIZES A MOTOR VEHICLE USED IN VIOL ATION OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL 3
654	654	LAW ARTICLE MAY RECOMMEND TO THE APPROPRIATE F ORFEITING AUTHORITY IN 4
655	655	WRITING THAT THE MOTOR VEHICLE BE FORFEITED ONLY IF TH E OFFICER: 5
656	656
657	657	(1) DETERMINES FROM THE RECORDS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE 6
658	658	ADMINISTRATION THE NA MES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL REGISTERED OWNER S AND 7
659	659	SECURED PARTIES AS D EFINED IN STATE LAW; 8
660	660
661	661	(2) PERSONALLY REVIEWS T HE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 9
662	662	SEIZURE; AND 10
663	663
664	664	(3) PERSONALLY DETERMINE S, ACCORDING TO THE STA NDARDS 11
665	665	LISTED IN § 13–607 OF THIS SUBTITLE , AND REPRESENTS IN WR ITING THAT 12
666	666	FORFEITURE IS WARRAN TED. 13
667	667
668	668	(B) A SWORN AFFIDAVIT BY T HE CHIEF LAW ENFORCE MENT OFFICER THAT 14
669	669	THE OFFICER FOLLOWED T HE REQUIREMENTS OF S UBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 15
670	670	IS ADMISSIBLE IN EVI DENCE IN A PROCEEDIN G UNDER THIS SUBTITL E. 16
671	671
672	672	13–609. 17
673	673
674	674	(A) THE FORFEITING AUTHOR ITY SHALL SURRENDER THE MOTOR VEHICLE 18
675	675	ON REQUEST TO THE OW NER IF THE FORFEITIN G AUTHORI TY DETERMINES , 19
676	676	INDEPENDENT OF THE D ECISION OF THE SEIZI NG AUTHORITY , THAT THE TOTAL 20
677	677	CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AS LISTED UNDER § 13–607(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE DO 21
678	678	NOT JUSTIFY FORFEITU RE. 22
679	679
680	680	(B) IN A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS SUBTITLE, THE COURT MAY DETERM INE, 23
681	681	BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES LISTED IN § 13–607(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE , 24
682	682	WHETHER THE SEIZING AUTHORITY OR FORFEIT ING AUTHORITY ABUSED ITS 25
683	683	DISCRETION OR WAS CL EARLY ERRONEOUS : 26
684	684
685	685	(1) IN RECOMMENDING THE FORFEITURE OF A MOTO R VEHICLE; OR 27
686	686
687	687	(2) IN NOT SURRENDERING ON REQUEST A MOTOR VEHICL E TO AN 28
688	688	OWNER. 29
689	689
690	690	13–610. 30
691	691	16 SENATE BILL 1111
692	692
693	693
694	694	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN §§ 13–612 AND 13–613 OF THIS 1
695	695	SUBTITLE, AN OWNER OF SEIZED P ROPERTY WHO WISHES T O OBTAIN POSSESSION 2
696	696	OF THE PROPERTY , TO CONVEY AN INTERES T IN REAL PROPERTY , OR TO REMOVE A 3
697	697	BUILDING OR FIXTURE FROM REAL PROPERTY SHALL NOTIF Y THE CLERK OF THE 4
698	698	PROPER COURT . 5
699	699
700	700	(2) IF FORFEITURE PROCEED INGS HAVE BEGUN , THE PROPER COURT 6
701	701	IS THE COURT WHERE T HE PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEGUN. 7
702	702
703	703	(3) IF CRIMINAL PROCEEDIN GS HAVE BEGUN BUT FO RFEITURE 8
704	704	PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT BEGUN, THE PROPER COURT IS THE COURT WHERE THE 9
705	705	CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEGUN. 10
706	706
707	707	(4) IF BOTH FORFEITURE PR OCEEDINGS AND CRIMIN AL 11
708	708	PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT BEGUN, THE PROPER COURT IS THE CIRCUIT COURT FO R 12
709	709	THE COUNTY WHERE THE PROPERTY WAS SEIZED . 13
710	710
711	711	(B) (1) UNLESS THE FORFEITING AUTHORITY AND THE OW NER AGREE TO 14
712	712	A BOND IN ANOTHER AM OUNT, IF A MOTOR VEHICLE I S NOT NEEDED FOR 15
713	713	EVIDENTIARY PURPOSES IN A JUDICIAL PROCEE DING: 16
714	714
715	715	(I) THE COURT SHALL APPR AISE THE VALUE OF TH E MOTOR 17
716	716	VEHICLE ON THE BASIS OF THE AVERA GE VALUE OF THE MOTO R VEHICLE SET 18
717	717	FORTH IN THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL USED 19
718	718	CAR GUIDE; OR 20
719	719
720	720	(II) IF THE OWNER SHOWS T HAT A LIEN IS ON THE MOTOR 21
721	721	VEHICLE AND THE OWNE R AGREES TO MAKE THE REQUIRED PAYMENTS TO THE 22
722	722	LIENHOLDER , THE COURT SHALL REQUIRE A B OND IN AN AMOUNT OF THE AVERAGE 23
723	723	VALUE OF THE MOTOR V EHICLE SET FORTH IN THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE 24
724	724	DEALERS ASSOCIATION OFFICIAL USED CAR GUIDE , LESS THE AMOUNT OWED ON 25
725	725	THE LIEN. 26
726	726
727	727	(2) FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE , THE COURT SHALL APPR AISE THE VALU E 27
728	728	IN THE MANNER PROVID ED IN THIS SUBSECTIO N AND PROVIDE THE AP PRAISAL IN 28
729	729	WRITING TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT. 29
730	730
731	731	(C) (1) IF PROPERTY OTHER THA N A MOTOR VEHICLE IS NOT NEEDED 30
732	732	FOR EVIDENTIARY PURP OSES IN A JUDICIAL P ROCEEDING, THE CLERK SHALL 31
733	733	OBTAIN AN INDEPEND ENT APPRAISAL OF THE VALUE OF THE PROPERT Y. 32
734	734
735	735	(2) THE SHERIFF OR OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE F OR AN 33
736	736	APPRAISAL UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL PRO MPTLY: 34 SENATE BILL 1111 17
737	737
738	738
739	739
740	740	(I) INSPECT AND APPRAISE THE VALUE OF THE PRO PERTY; AND 1
741	741
742	742	(II) RETURN THE APPRAISAL IN WRITING UNDER OAT H TO THE 2
743	743	CLERK OF THE COURT . 3
744	744
745	745	(D) NOTICE OF THE APPRAIS AL SHALL BE SENT TO ALL LIENHOLDERS 4
746	746	SHOWN IN THE RECORDS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR NOTICE OR THE PERFEC TION OF 5
747	747	THE LIEN. 6
748	748
749	749	(E) (1) ON THE FILING OF AN A PPRAISAL, THE OWNER MAY GIVE B OND 7
750	750	PAYABLE TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT IN AN A MOUNT EQUAL TO THE G REATER OF: 8
751	751
752	752	(I) THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY PLUS ANY 9
753	753	ACCRUED COSTS ; OR 10
754	754
755	755	(II) THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF THE LIENS ON THE PROPERTY 11
756	756	THAT ARE SHOWN IN TH E RECORDS REQUIRED B Y LAW FOR THE NOTICE OR 12
757	757	PERFECTION OF LIENS. 13
758	758
759	759	(2) A PERSON MAY GIVE A BO ND UNDER THIS SUBSEC TION BY CASH, 14
760	760	THROUGH A SURETY , THROUGH A LIEN ON RE AL PROPERTY , OR BY OTHER MEANS 15
761	761	THAT THE CLERK APPRO VES. 16
762	762
763	763	(3) A BOND AUTHORIZED UNDE R THIS SUBSECTION SH ALL BE: 17
764	764
765	765	(I) CONDITIONED FOR PERF ORMANCE ON FINAL JUDGME NT BY 18
766	766	THE COURT; 19
767	767
768	768	(II) FILED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OR CIRCUIT COUR T WHERE 20
769	769	THE CRIMINAL ACTION THAT GAVE RISE TO TH E SEIZURE IS PENDING ; AND 21
770	770
771	771	(III) UNLESS A COMPLAINT F OR FORFEITURE HAS BE EN FILED, 22
772	772	PART OF THE SAME CRI MINAL PROCEED ING. 23
773	773
774	774	(4) IF A CRIMINAL ACTION IS NOT PENDING OR A FORFEITURE 24
775	775	COMPLAINT HAS NOT BE EN FILED, THE BOND SHALL BE FI LED IN THE CIRCUIT 25
776	776	COURT OR DISTRICT COURT WHERE THE PROPE RTY WAS SEIZED. 26
777	777
778	778	(F) (1) IF THE COURT ORDERS T HAT PROPERTY OR AN I NTEREST OR 27
779	779	EQUITY IN THE PROPERTY OR P ROCEEDS BE FORFEITED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE , THE 28
780	780	COURT SHALL ENTER JU DGMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND AGAINST THE 29
781	781	OBLIGORS ON THE BOND WITHOUT FURTHER PROC EEDINGS. 30 18 SENATE BILL 1111
782	782
783	783
784	784
785	785	(2) PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND SHALL BE APPLIED AS 1
786	786	PROVIDED UNDE R § 13–628(C)(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
787	787
788	788	13–611. 3
789	789
790	790	SEIZURE OF REAL PROPE RTY OCCURS ON THE EA RLIER OF THE FILING OF: 4
791	791
792	792	(1) A COMPLAINT FOR FORF EITURE UNDER THIS SU BTITLE; OR 5
793	793
794	794	(2) A NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN THE CI RCUIT COURT OF THE 6
795	795	COUNTY WHERE THE REA L PROPERTY IS LOCATED . 7
796	796
797	797	13–612. 8
798	798
799	799	(A) SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS OF A LIENHOLDER TO S ELL THE REAL 9
800	800	PROPERTY, AN OWNER OR AN OWNER ’S TENANT MAY REMAIN IN POSSESSION OF 10
801	801	SEIZED REAL PROPERTY UNTIL FORFEITURE IS ORDERED. 11
802	802
803	803	(B) THE FORFEITING AUTHOR ITY MAY APPLY TO TH E COURT FOR THE 12
804	804	APPOINTMENT OF A REC EIVER TO APPLY INCOM E FROM INCOME –PRODUCING 13
805	805	PROPERTY. 14
806	806
807	807	(C) IF A PERSON WHO IS AN OWNER OR AN OWNER ’S TENANT REMAINS IN 15
808	808	POSSESSION OF THE RE AL PROPERTY AND THE PERSON’S INTEREST IN THE RE AL 16
809	809	PROPERTY IS FORFEITE D, THE PERSON IMMEDIATELY SHAL L SURRENDER THE REAL 17
810	810	PROPERTY TO THE SEIZ ING AUTHORITY IN SUB STANTIALLY THE SAME CONDITION 18
811	811	AS WHEN SEIZED . 19
812	812
813	813	13–613. 20
814	814
815	815	(A) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY IF: 21
816	816
817	817	(1) AN ACT IS AGREED TO BY A FORFEITING AUTH ORITY OR IS 22
818	818	ORDERED BY THE COURT ; OR 23
819	819
820	820	(2) AN OWNER POSTS A BON D UNDER § 13–610 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
821	821
822	822	(B) UNTIL THE COURT ENTER S JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE OWNER , AN 25
823	823	OWNER MAY NOT ATTEMP T TO: 26
824	824
825	825	(1) CONVEY OR ENCUMBER A N INTEREST IN SEIZED REAL PROPERTY ; 27
826	826	OR 28 SENATE BILL 1111 19
827	827
828	828
829	829
830	830	(2) REMOVE A BUILDING OR FIXTURE ON SEIZED REAL PROPE RTY. 1
831	831
832	832	13–614. 2
833	833
834	834	EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 13–617(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE , IF PROPERTY IS 3
835	835	SEIZED UNDER § 13–604(2)(IV) OF THIS SUBTITLE BEC AUSE THERE IS PROBAB LE 4
836	836	CAUSE TO BELIEVE THA T THE PROPERTY IS DI RECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DANGEROUS 5
837	837	TO HEALTH OR SAFETY AND THAT T HE PROPERTY WAS OR W ILL BE USED TO VIOLA TE 6
838	838	§ 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE, FORFEITURE PROCEEDIN GS UNDER THIS 7
839	839	SUBTITLE SHALL BE FI LED PROMPTLY . 8
840	840
841	841	13–615. 9
842	842
843	843	EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 13–616 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE APPROPRIATE 10
844	844	FORFEITING A UTHORITY SHALL FILE PROCEEDINGS UNDER TH IS SUBTITLE IN THE 11
845	845	CIRCUIT COURT . 12
846	846
847	847	13–616. 13
848	848
849	849	(A) TO APPLY FOR THE FORF EITURE OF MONEY , THE APPROPRIATE LOCA L 14
850	850	FINANCIAL AUTHORITY OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL FILE A COMPLAINT AND 15
851	851	AFFIDAVIT IN THE DISTRICT COURT OR THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY IN 16
852	852	WHICH THE MONEY WAS SEIZED. 17
853	853
854	854	(B) THE COMPLAINT AND AFF IDAVIT SHALL BE SERV ED IN ACCORDANCE 18
855	855	WITH THE MARYLAND RULES. 19
856	856
857	857	13–617. 20
858	858
859	859	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER SUBSECTIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS 21
860	860	SECTION, A COMPLAINT SEEKING FORFEITURE SHALL BE FIL ED WITHIN THE 22
861	861	EARLIER OF: 23
862	862
863	863	(1) 90 DAYS AFTER THE SEIZU RE; OR 24
864	864
865	865	(2) 1 YEAR AFTER THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE C RIMINAL CHARGE 25
866	866	FOR THE VIOLATION GI VING RISE TO THE FOR FEITURE. 26
867	867
868	868	(B) A COMPLAINT FOR THE FO RFEITURE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SHA LL BE 27
869	869	FILED WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS SEIZED. 28
870	870	20 SENATE BILL 1111
871	871
872	872
873	873	(C) (1) A PROCEEDING ABOUT MON EY SHALL BE FILED WI THIN 90 DAYS 1
874	874	AFTER THE FINAL DISP OSITION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS THAT ARI SE OUT OF 2
875	875	THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS LAW . 3
876	876
877	877	(2) IF THE STATE OR A PO LITICAL SUBDIVISION DOES NOT FILE 4
878	878	PROCEEDINGS ABOUT MO NEY WITHIN THE 90–DAY PERIOD, THE MONEY SEIZED 5
879	879	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE OWNER ON REQUEST BY THE 6
880	880	OWNER. 7
881	881
882	882	(3) IF THE OWNER FAILS TO ASK FOR THE RETURN O F THE MONEY 8
883	883	WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE FINAL DISP OSITION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS , THE 9
884	884	MONEY SHALL REVERT T O: 10
885	885
886	886	(I) THE POLITICAL SUBDIV ISION IN WHICH THE M ONEY WAS 11
887	887	SEIZED; OR 12
888	888
889	889	(II) THE STATE, IF THE MONEY WAS SEI ZED BY STATE 13
890	890	AUTHORITIES. 14
891	891
892	892	13–618. 15
893	893
894	894	(A) A COMPLAINT SEEKING FO RFEITURE SHALL CONTAIN : 16
895	895
896	896	(1) A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY SEIZED ; 17
897	897
898	898	(2) THE DATE AND PLACE O F THE SEIZURE; 18
899	899
900	900	(3) THE NAME OF THE OWNE R, IF KNOWN; 19
901	901
902	902	(4) THE NAME OF THE PERS ON IN POSSESSION , IF KNOWN; 20
903	903
904	904	(5) THE NAME OF EACH LIE NHOLDER, IF KNOWN OR REASONA BLY 21
905	905	SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY ; 22
906	906
907	907	(6) AN ALLEGATION THAT T HE PROPERTY IS SUBJE CT TO 23
908	908	FORFEITURE; 24
909	909
910	910	(7) IF THE FORFEITING AU THORITY SEEKS TO FOR FEIT A 25
911	911	LIENHOLDER ’S INTEREST IN PROPER TY, AN ALLEGATION THAT T HE LIEN WAS 26
912	912	CREATED WITH ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT THE P ROPERTY WAS BEING OR WAS TO 27
913	913	BE USED IN VIOLATION OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 28
914	914	SENATE BILL 1111 21
915	915
916	916
917	917	(8) A STATEMENT OF THE F ACTS AND CIRCUMSTANC ES 1
918	918	SURROUNDING THE SEIZ URE; 2
919	919
920	920	(9) A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH THE SPECIFIC G ROUNDS FOR 3
921	921	FORFEITURE; AND 4
922	922
923	923	(10) AN OATH OR AFFIRMATION BY THE F ORFEITING AUTHORITY THAT 5
924	924	THE CONTENTS OF THE COMPLAINT ARE TRUE T O THE BEST OF THE FO RFEITING 6
925	925	AUTHORITY’S KNOWLEDGE , INFORMATION , AND BELIEF. 7
926	926
927	927	(B) WITHIN 20 DAYS AFTER THE FILIN G OF THE COMPLAINT , COPIES OF THE 8
928	928	SUMMONS AND COMPLAIN T SHALL BE SENT BY CERTI FIED MAIL REQUESTING 9
929	929	“RESTRICTED DELIVERY – SHOW TO WHOM , DATE, ADDRESS OF DELIVERY ” AND 10
930	930	FIRST–CLASS MAIL TO ALL KN OWN OWNERS AND LIENH OLDERS WHOSE IDENTIT IES 11
931	931	ARE REASONABLY SUBJE CT TO DISCOVERY , INCLUDING ALL REAL P ROPERTY 12
932	932	OWNERS AND L IENHOLDERS SHOWN IN THE RECORDS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR 13
933	933	NOTICE OR PERFECTION OF THE LIEN. 14
934	934
935	935	13–619. 15
936	936
937	937	(A) A NOTICE SHALL BE SIGN ED BY THE CLERK OF T HE COURT AND SHALL : 16
938	938
939	939	(1) INCLUDE THE CAPTION OF THE CASE; 17
940	940
941	941	(2) DESCRIBE THE SUBSTAN CE OF THE COMPLAINT AND THE RELIEF 18
942	942	SOUGHT; 19
943	943
944	944	(3) STATE THE LATEST DAT E ON WHICH A RESPONS E MAY BE FILED; 20
945	945
946	946	(4) STATE THAT THE PROPE RTY SHALL BE FORFEIT ED IF A RESPONSE 21
947	947	IS NOT FILED ON TIME ; 22
948	948
949	949	(5) STATE THAT THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY MAY HAVE 23
950	950	POSSESSION OF THE PR OPERTY PENDING FO RFEITURE BY POSTING A BOND AS 24
951	951	PROVIDED IN § 13–610 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 25
952	952
953	953	(6) TELL WHERE TO FILE A RESPONSE AND WHOM TO CONTACT FOR 26
954	954	MORE INFORMATION CON CERNING THE FORFEITU RE. 27
955	955
956	956	(B) WITHIN 20 DAYS AFTER THE FILIN G OF THE COMPLAINT , THE NOTICE 28
957	957	SHALL BE: 29
958	958	22 SENATE BILL 1111
959	959
960	960
961	961	(1) POSTED BY THE SHERIF F ON THE DOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE 1
962	962	WHERE THE ACTION IS PENDING OR ON A BULL ETIN BOARD WITHIN TH E IMMEDIATE 2
963	963	VICINITY OF THE DOOR ; 3
964	964
965	965	(2) POSTED BY THE SHERIF F IN A CONSPICUOUS P LACE ON THE LAND , 4
966	966	IF FORFEITURE OF REA L PROPERTY IS SOUGH T; AND 5
967	967
968	968	(3) PUBLISHED AT LEAST O NCE A WEEK IN EACH O F 3 SUCCESSIVE 6
969	969	WEEKS IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATI ON PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY IN 7
970	970	WHICH THE ACTION IS PENDING, UNLESS THE PROPERTY IS A BOAT OR MOTOR 8
971	971	VEHICLE. 9
972	972
973	973	13–620. 10
974	974
975	975	THE ANSWER TO A COMPL AINT SHALL: 11
976	976
977	977	(1) COMPLY WITH THE MARYLAND RULES; 12
978	978
979	979	(2) STATE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE PERSON ’S RIGHT IN, 13
980	980	TITLE TO, OR INTEREST IN THE P ROPERTY; 14
981	981
982	982	(3) STATE HOW AND WHEN T HE PERSON ACQUIRED A RIGHT IN, TITLE 15
983	983	TO, OR INTEREST IN THE P ROPERTY; AND 16
984	984
985	985	(4) CONTAIN A REQUEST FOR RELIEF AND A REQUEST FOR A PROMPT 17
986	986	HEARING. 18
987	987
988	988	13–621. 19
989	989
990	990	(A) IF AN ANSWER HAS BEEN FILED ON TIME , THE COURT SHALL SET A 20
991	991	HEARING ON THE FORFE ITURE CLAIM WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF: 21
992	992
993	993	(1) POSTING OF NOTICE UN DER § 13–619(B)(1) OR (2) OF THIS 22
994	994	SUBTITLE; OR 23
995	995
996	996	(2) FINAL PUBLICATION OF NOTICE UNDER § 13–619(B)(3) OF THIS 24
997	997	SUBTITLE. 25
998	998
999	999	(B) WITHOUT A HEARING , THE COURT MAY ORDER FORFEITURE OF THE 26
1000	1000	PROPERTY INTEREST OF A PERSON WHO FAILS T O TIMELY FILE AN ANS WER. 27
1001	1001
1002	1002	13–622. 28
1003	1003	SENATE BILL 1111 23
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N §§ 13–603 AND 13–624 OF THIS SUBTITLE , AN 1
1007	1007	OWNER’S INTEREST IN REAL P ROPERTY MAY BE FORFE ITED IF THE OWNER OF THE 2
1008	1008	REAL PROPERTY IS CON VICTED OF VIOLATING § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 3
1009	1009	ARTICLE OR ATTEMPTING OR CONSPIRING TO VIO LATE § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL 4
1010	1010	LAW ARTICLE. 5
1011	1011
1012	1012	13–623. 6
1013	1013
1014	1014	(A) FORFEITURE PROCEEDING S FOR REAL PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT IN 7
1015	1015	THE JURISDICTION WHE RE: 8
1016	1016
1017	1017	(1) THE CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE PENDING; 9
1018	1018
1019	1019	(2) THE OWNER RESIDES ; OR 10
1020	1020
1021	1021	(3) THE REAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED. 11
1022	1022
1023	1023	(B) (1) IF FORFEITURE PROCEED INGS FOR REAL PROPER TY ARE 12
1024	1024	BROUGHT IN A JURISDI CTION OTHER THAN WHE RE THE REAL PROPERTY IS 13
1025	1025	LOCATED, A NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION SHALL BE FILED IN THE JURISDI CTION 14
1026	1026	WHERE THE PROPERTY I S LOCATED. 15
1027	1027
1028	1028	(2) A NOTICE OF PENDING LI TIGATION REQUIRED UNDER THIS 16
1029	1029	SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE AT LEAST: 17
1030	1030
1031	1031	(I) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE OWNER OF THE REAL 18
1032	1032	PROPERTY; 19
1033	1033
1034	1034	(II) A DESCRIPTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY ; AND 20
1035	1035
1036	1036	(III) A DESCRIPTION OF THE REASONS FOR THE FILI NG OF THE 21
1037	1037	FORFEITURE PROCEEDIN GS AND NOTICE OF PENDING LI TIGATION. 22
1038	1038
1039	1039	13–624. 23
1040	1040
1041	1041	IF AN OWNER OF REAL P ROPERTY USED AS THE PRINCIPAL FAMILY 24
1042	1042	RESIDENCE IS CONVICT ED UNDER § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE OR IS 25
1043	1043	CONVICTED OF AN ATTE MPT OR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL 26
1044	1044	LAW ARTICLE AND THE OWNER FILES A N APPEAL OF THE CONV ICTION, THE COURT 27
1045	1045	SHALL STAY FORFEITUR E PROCEEDINGS UNDER § 13–603 OF THIS SUBTITLE 28
1046	1046	AGAINST THE REAL PRO PERTY DURING THE PEN DENCY OF THE APPEAL . 29
1047	1047
1048	1048	13–625. 30 24 SENATE BILL 1111
1049	1049
1050	1050
1051	1051
1052	1052	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, 1
1053	1053	THERE IS A REBUTTABL E PRESUMPTION THAT P ROPERTY OR PART OF A PROPERTY 2
1054	1054	IN WHICH A PERSON HA S AN OWNERSHIP INTER EST IS SUBJECT TO FO RFEITURE AS 3
1055	1055	PROCEEDS, IF THE STATE ESTABLISHES BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE 4
1056	1056	THAT: 5
1057	1057
1058	1058	(I) THE PERSON WAS CONVI CTED OF VIOLATING § 9–804 OF 6
1059	1059	THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE OR ATTEMPTING OR CONSPIRING TO VIO LATE § 9–804 7
1060	1060	OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 8
1061	1061
1062	1062	(II) THE PROPERTY WAS ACQ UIRED BY THE PERSON DURING 9
1063	1063	THE VIOLATION OR WIT HIN A REASONABLE TIM E AFTER THE VIOLATIO N; AND 10
1064	1064
1065	1065	(III) THERE WAS NO OTHER L IKELY SOURCE FOR THE PROPERTY. 11
1066	1066
1067	1067	(2) A CLAIMANT OF THE PROP ERTY HAS THE BURDEN OF PROOF TO 12
1068	1068	REBUT THE PRESUMPTIO N IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 13
1069	1069
1070	1070	(B) REAL PROPERTY USED AS THE PRINCIPAL FAMILY RESIDENCE MAY NOT 14
1071	1071	BE FORFEITED U NDER THIS SECTION UN LESS: 15
1072	1072
1073	1073	(1) AN OWNER OF THE REAL PROPERTY WAS CONVICT ED OF A CRIME 16
1074	1074	DESCRIBED UNDER SUBS ECTION (A)(1)(I) OF THIS SECTION; OR 17
1075	1075
1076	1076	(2) § 13–603(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE APP LIES. 18
1077	1077
1078	1078	13–626. 19
1079	1079
1080	1080	(A) THE COURT MAY ORDER T HE FORFEITURE OF OTH ER PROPERT Y OF THE 20
1081	1081	OWNER UP TO THE VALU E OF ANY PROPERTY SE IZED UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE, WITH 21
1082	1082	THE EXCEPTION OF REA L PROPERTY, IF AS A RESULT OF AN ACT OR OMISSION OF 22
1083	1083	THE OWNER THE PROPER TY TO BE FORFEITED : 23
1084	1084
1085	1085	(1) CANNOT BE LOCATED AF TER THE EXERCISE OF DUE DILIGENCE ; 24
1086	1086
1087	1087	(2) HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO, SOLD TO, OR DEPOSITED WITH A 25
1088	1088	THIRD PARTY; 26
1089	1089
1090	1090	(3) HAS BEEN PLACED BEYO ND THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT; 27
1091	1091
1092	1092	(4) HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL LY DIMINISHED IN VAL UE; OR 28
1093	1093	SENATE BILL 1111 25
1094	1094
1095	1095
1096	1096	(5) HAS BEEN COMMINGLED WITH OTHER PROPERTY AND CANNOT BE 1
1097	1097	DIVIDED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY . 2
1098	1098
1099	1099	(B) THE COURT MAY ORDER T HE OWNER TO RETURN P ROPERTY TO THE 3
1100	1100	JURISDICTION OF THE COURT. 4
1101	1101
1102	1102	13–627. 5
1103	1103
1104	1104	IN A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS SUBTITLE, A COURT MAY: 6
1105	1105
1106	1106	(1) GRANT REQUESTS FOR M ITIGATION OR REMISSI ON OF 7
1107	1107	FORFEITURE OR TAKE O THER ACTION T HAT PROTECTS THE RIG HTS OF INNOCENT 8
1108	1108	PERSONS, IS CONSISTENT WITH T HIS SUBTITLE, AND IS IN THE INTERE ST OF 9
1109	1109	JUSTICE; 10
1110	1110
1111	1111	(2) RESOLVE CLAIMS ARISI NG UNDER THIS SUBTIT LE; AND 11
1112	1112
1113	1113	(3) TAKE APPROPRIATE MEA SURES TO SAFEGUARD A ND MAINTAIN 12
1114	1114	PROPERTY FORFEITED U NDER THIS SUBTITLE PENDING T HE DISPOSITION OF TH E 13
1115	1115	PROPERTY. 14
1116	1116
1117	1117	13–628. 15
1118	1118
1119	1119	(A) AFTER A FULL HEARING , IF THE COURT DETERMI NES THAT THE 16
1120	1120	PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE FORFEITED , THE COURT SHALL ORDE R THAT THE 17
1121	1121	PROPERTY BE RELEASED . 18
1122	1122
1123	1123	(B) SUBJECT TO § 13–629 OF THIS SUBTITLE , IF THE COURT DETERMINES 19
1124	1124	THAT THE PROPERTY SH OULD BE FORFEITED , THE COURT SHALL ORDE R THAT THE 20
1125	1125	PROPERTY BE FORFEITE D TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY . 21
1126	1126
1127	1127	(C) (1) IF THE COURT DETERMIN ES THAT THE FORFEITE D PROPERTY IS 22
1128	1128	SUBJECT TO A VALID L IEN CREATED WITHOUT ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE 23
1129	1129	LIENHOLDER THAT THE PROPERTY WAS BEING O R WAS TO BE USED IN VIOLATION 24
1130	1130	OF § 9–804 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE, THE COURT SHALL ORDE R THAT THE 25
1131	1131	PROPERTY BE RELEASED WITHIN 5 DAYS TO THE FIRST PR IORITY LIENHOLDER . 26
1132	1132
1133	1133	(2) THE LIENHOLDER SHA LL SELL THE PROPERTY IN A 27
1134	1134	COMMERCIALLY REASONA BLE MANNER . 28
1135	1135
1136	1136	(3) THE PROCEEDS OF THE S ALE SHALL BE APPLIED AS FOLLOWS: 29
1137	1137
1138	1138	(I) TO THE COURT COSTS O F THE FORFEITURE PRO CEEDING; 30 26 SENATE BILL 1111
1139	1139
1140	1140
1141	1141
1142	1142	(II) TO THE BALANCE DUE T HE LIENHOLDER , INCLUDING ALL 1
1143	1143	REASONABLE COSTS INCIDENT TO THE SALE ; 2
1144	1144
1145	1145	(III) TO PAYMENT OF ALL OT HER EXPENSES OF THE 3
1146	1146	PROCEEDINGS FOR FORF EITURE, INCLUDING EXPENSES O F SEIZURE OR 4
1147	1147	MAINTENANCE OF CUSTO DY; AND 5
1148	1148
1149	1149	(IV) TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE OR OF THE 6
1150	1150	POLITICAL SUBDIVISIO N THAT SEIZED THE PR OPERTY. 7
1151	1151
1152	1152	13–629. 8
1153	1153
1154	1154	IF PROPERTY IS FORFEI TED UNDER THIS SUBTI TLE, THE GOVERNING BODY 9
1155	1155	WHERE THE PROPERTY W AS SEIZED MAY: 10
1156	1156
1157	1157	(1) KEEP THE PROPERTY FO R OFFICIAL USE; 11
1158	1158
1159	1159	(2) REQUIRE AN APPROPRIA TE UNIT TO TAKE CUST ODY OF THE 12
1160	1160	PROPERTY AND DESTROY OR OTHERWISE DISPO SE OF IT; OR 13
1161	1161
1162	1162	(3) SELL THE PROPERTY IF : 14
1163	1163
1164	1164	(I) THE LAW DOES NOT REQ UIRE THE PROPERTY TO BE 15
1165	1165	DESTROYED; AND 16
1166	1166
1167	1167	(II) THE PROPERTY IS NOT HARMFUL TO THE PUBLI C. 17
1168	1168
1169	1169	13–630. 18
1170	1170
1171	1171	(A) THE PROCEEDS FROM A S ALE OR THE RETENTION OF PROPERTY 19
1172	1172	DECLARED TO BE FORFE ITED AND ANY INTEREST ACCR UED SHALL BE APPLIED 20
1173	1173	FIRST TO THE PROPER EXPENSES OF THE PROC EEDING FOR FORFEITUR E AND 21
1174	1174	RESULTING SALE , INCLUDING THE EXPENS E OF SEIZING AND MAI NTAINING 22
1175	1175	CUSTODY OF THE PROPE RTY AND ADVERTISING . 23
1176	1176
1177	1177	(B) ANY BALANCE REMAINING AFTER THE DISTR IBUTION REQUIRED UND ER 24
1178	1178	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE GENERAL FUND 25
1179	1179	OF THE STATE OR OF THE POLIT ICAL SUBDIVISION THA T SEIZED THE PROPERT Y. 26
1180	1180
1181	1181	13–631. 27
1182	1182	SENATE BILL 1111 27
1183	1183
1184	1184
1185	1185	A SALE OF PROPERTY ORD ERED UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE SHALL BE MADE F OR 1
1186	1186	CASH AND GIVES THE PURCHASER CLEAR AND ABSOLUTE TITLE . 2
1187	1187
1188	1188	13–632. 3
1189	1189
1190	1190	(A) BEFORE EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO SELL PROPER TY THAT HAS BEEN 4
1191	1191	SEIZED UNDER THIS SU BTITLE, A LIENHOLDER SHALL G IVE TO THE FORFEITIN G 5
1192	1192	AUTHORITY: 6
1193	1193
1194	1194	(1) WRITTEN NOTICE OF TH E INTENTION TO SELL ; 7
1195	1195
1196	1196	(2) COPIES OF DOCUMENTS GIVIN G RISE TO THE LIEN; AND 8
1197	1197
1198	1198	(3) AN AFFIDAVIT UNDER O ATH BY THE LIENHOLDE R STATING: 9
1199	1199
1200	1200	(I) THAT THE UNDERLYING OBLIGATION IS IN DEF AULT; AND 10
1201	1201
1202	1202	(II) THE REASONS FOR THE DEFAULT. 11
1203	1203
1204	1204	(B) ON REQUEST OF THE LIE NHOLDER, THE FORFEITING AUTHO RITY SHALL 12
1205	1205	RELEASE THE PROPERTY TO THE LIENHOLDER . 13
1206	1206
1207	1207	13–633. 14
1208	1208
1209	1209	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , THE LAW 15
1210	1210	GOVERNING THE SALE O F COLLATERAL SECURIN G AN OBLIGATION IN D EFAULT 16
1211	1211	GOVERNS A LIENHOLDER ’S REPOSSESSION AND S ALE OF PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN 17
1212	1212	SEIZED UNDER THIS SU BTITLE. 18
1213	1213
1214	1214	(B) A LIENHOLDER MAY NOT B E REQUIRED TO TAKE P OSSESSION OF THE 19
1215	1215	PROPERTY BEFORE THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY . 20
1216	1216
1217	1217	13–634. 21
1218	1218
1219	1219	(A) ANY PART OF THE PROCE EDS FROM A SALE OF P ROPERTY THAT HAS 22
1220	1220	BEEN SEIZED UNDER TH IS SUBTITLE THAT WOULD BE PAID TO AN OWNER OF THE 23
1221	1221	PROPERTY UNDER THE A PPLICABLE LAW RELATI NG TO DISTRIBUTION O F 24
1222	1222	PROCEEDS SHALL BE : 25
1223	1223
1224	1224	(1) PAID TO THE SEIZING AUTHORITY; AND 26
1225	1225
1226	1226	(2) PROPERTY SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE. 27
1227	1227	28 SENATE BILL 1111
1228	1228
1229	1229
1230	1230	(B) IF AN ORDER OF FORFEI TURE IS NOT ENTERED , THE STATE SHALL 1
1231	1231	RETURN TO THE OWNER THAT PART OF THE PRO CEEDS AND ANY COSTS OF THE 2
1232	1232	FORFEITURE PROCEEDIN GS PAID FROM THE PRO CEEDS OF THE SALE . 3
1233	1233
1234	1234	13–635. 4
1235	1235
1236	1236	(A) IF THE INTEREST OF TH E OWNER IN PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN SEIZED 5
1237	1237	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IS REDEEMED, THE LIENHOLDER SH ALL MAIL A NOTICE OF 6
1238	1238	THE REDEMPTION TO TH E FORFEITING AUTHORI TY WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE 7
1239	1239	REDEMPTION . 8
1240	1240
1241	1241	(B) (1) IF PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN SEIZED UNDER TH IS SUBTITLE HAS 9
1242	1242	BEEN REPOSSESSED OR OTHERWISE LAWFULLY T AKEN BY THE LIENHOLD ER, THE 10
1243	1243	LIENHOLDER SHALL RET URN THE PROPERTY TO THE SEIZING AUTHORIT Y WITHIN 11
1244	1244	21 DAYS AFTER THE REDEM PTION. 12
1245	1245
1246	1246	(2) THE SEIZING AUTHORITY AND THE FORFEITING A UTHORITY MAY 13
1247	1247	THEN PROCEED WITH TH E FORFEITURE OF THE PROPERTY OR THE PROC EEDS FROM 14
1248	1248	THE SALE OF THE PROP ERTY. 15
1249	1249
1250	1250	(C) TIME LIMITATIONS REQUIRED UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE FOR NOT ICE AND 16
1251	1251	FILING OF THE COMPLA INT FOR FORFEITURE R UN FROM THE DATE OF REDEMPTION 17
1252	1252	OR PURCHASE OF THE P ROPERTY THAT HAS BEE N SEIZED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 18
1253	1253
1254	1254	13–636. 19
1255	1255
1256	1256	THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T PROHIBIT A LIENHOL DER FROM EXERCI SING 20
1257	1257	RIGHTS UNDER APPLICA BLE LAW, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SELL PROPERTY THA T 21
1258	1258	HAS BEEN SEIZED UNDE R THIS SUBTITLE , IF A DEFAULT OCCURS IN THE 22
1259	1259	OBLIGATION GIVING RI SE TO THE LIEN. 23
1260	1260
1261	1261	13–637. 24
1262	1262
1263	1263	(A) IN AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THIS SUBTITLE , THE STATE MAY FILE 25
1264	1264	WITH THE CLERK OF THE COU RT A CERTIFICATE STA TING THAT THE CASE I S OF 26
1265	1265	SPECIAL PUBLIC IMPOR TANCE. 27
1266	1266
1267	1267	(B) THE CLERK OF THE COUR T SHALL IMMEDIATELY FURNISH A COPY OF A 28
1268	1268	CERTIFICATE FILED UN DER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO T HE CHIEF 29
1269	1269	JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF MARYLAND OR THE CHIEF JUSTICE’S 30
1270	1270	DESIGNEE. 31
1271	1271	SENATE BILL 1111 29
1272	1272
1273	1273
1274	1274	(C) ON RECEIPT OF A CERTI FICATE FILED UNDER S UBSECTION (A) OF THIS 1
1275	1275	SECTION, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OR THE CHIEF JUSTICE’S DESIGNEE SHALL 2
1276	1276	IMMEDIATELY DESIGNAT E A JUDGE TO HEAR AN D DETERMINE THE CASE . 3
1277	1277
1278	1278	(D) THE JUDGE DESIGNATED UNDER S UBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION 4
1279	1279	SHALL PROMPTLY ASSIG N THE CASE FOR HEARI NG, PARTICIPATE IN THE H EARINGS 5
1280	1280	AND DETERMINATION , AND CAUSE THE CASE T O BE EXPEDITED . 6
1281	1281
1282	1282	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
1283	1283	October 1, 2024. 8
1284	1284
1285	1285