Oregon Statutes 131A.360 – Distribution of forfeiture proceeds by local government
(1) The provisions of this section apply only to a forfeiting agency other than the state, and apply only to forfeiture proceeds arising out of prohibited conduct as described in ORS § 131A.005 (12)(a), (b) and (c).
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 131A.360
- Asset forfeiture: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
- Attorney fees: has the meaning given that term in ORCP 68 A. See Oregon Statutes 131A.005
- Forfeiting agency: means a public body that is seeking forfeiture of property under this chapter. See Oregon Statutes 131A.005
- Forfeiture proceeds: means all property that has been forfeited in a proceeding under this chapter, including money, earnings from forfeited property and amounts realized from the sale of forfeited property. See Oregon Statutes 131A.005
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- Property: means any interest in anything of value, including the whole of any lot or tract of land and tangible and intangible personal property, including currency, instruments or securities or any other kind of privilege, interest, claim or right whether due or to become due. See Oregon Statutes 131A.005
- Public body: has the meaning given in ORS § 174. See Oregon Statutes 131A.005
(2) If the forfeiting agency is not a county, the forfeiting agency shall enter into an agreement, under ORS Chapter 190, with the county in which the property was seized to provide a portion of the forfeiture proceeds to the county.
(3) After entry of a judgment of forfeiture, a forfeiting agency shall first pay from the forfeiture proceeds the costs incurred by seizing and forfeiting agencies in investigating and prosecuting the case, including costs, disbursements and attorney fees as defined in ORCP 68 A, special expenses such as the provision of currency for undercover law enforcement operations, the cost of disabling a hidden compartment in a motor vehicle and the expenses of maintaining the seized property. The forfeiting agency may not pay expenditures made in connection with the ordinary maintenance and operation of a seizing or forfeiting agency under this subsection.
(4) After payment of costs under subsection (3) of this section, the forfeiting agency shall:
(a) Deduct an amount equal to five percent of the forfeiture proceeds and deposit that amount in the Illegal Drug Cleanup Fund established under ORS § 475.495 for the purposes specified in ORS § 475.495 (5) and (6);
(b) Deduct an amount equal to 2.5 percent of the forfeiture proceeds and deposit that amount in the Asset Forfeiture Oversight Account;
(c) Deduct an amount equal to 20 percent of the forfeiture proceeds and deposit that amount in the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission Account established under ORS § 137.662 for support for specialty courts as defined in ORS § 137.680;
(d) Deduct an amount equal to 10 percent of the forfeiture proceeds and deposit that amount in the Department of Early Learning and Care Fund established under ORS § 326.435 for disbursement to Relief Nursery programs as defined in ORS § 417.786; and
(e) Deduct an amount equal to 10 percent of the forfeiture proceeds and deposit that amount in an account established or designated by the State Treasurer in the higher education qualified tuition savings program of the Oregon 529 Savings Network for disbursement to the scholarship program for children of public safety officers established under ORS § 348.270.
(5) If the forfeiting agency has entered into an agreement with a county under subsection (2) of this section, after paying costs under subsection (3) of this section and making the deductions required by subsection (4) of this section, the forfeiting agency shall pay the county the amounts required by the agreement.
(6) After making all payments and deductions required by subsections (3), (4) and (5) of this section, the forfeiting agency may use the remaining forfeiture proceeds, including amounts received by a county under subsection (5) of this section or by any other public body under an intergovernmental agreement entered into under ORS § 131A.355, 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) Currency for undercover law enforcement operations;
(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;
(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;
(f) Drug treatment and programs that support drug treatment; and
(g) A CASA Volunteer Program as defined in ORS § 184.489.
(7) Notwithstanding subsection (6) 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.
(8) A forfeiting agency shall sell as much property as may be needed to make the distributions required by this section. Distributions required under subsection (4) 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. [2009 c.78 § 43; 2009 c.874 § 15; 2011 c.233 § 1; 2011 c.335 § 2; 2012 c.37 § 33; 2012 c.97 § 18; 2013 c.624 § 21; 2017 c.21 § 97; 2017 c.630 § 6; 2017 c.645 § 3; 2018 c.23 § 1; 2019 c.85 § 1; 2021 c.631 § 14]