Bill Text: TX HB344 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to criminal asset forfeiture proceedings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-03 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB344 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB344-Introduced.html

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85R603 AJZ-D
By: Canales H.B. No. 344

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the state's burden of proof in certain criminal asset
forfeiture proceedings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 59.021(d), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is amended to read as follows:
(d) After seizure of the substitute property, the
disposition shall proceed as other cases in this chapter except
that the attorney representing the state must prove by clear and
convincing [a preponderance of the] evidence:
(1) that the contraband described by Subsection (b)
was subject to seizure and forfeiture under this chapter;
(2) the highest fair market value of that contraband
during the period in which the owner of the substitute property
owned, or had an interest in, the contraband;
(3) the fair market value of the substitute property
at the time it was seized; and
(4) that the owner of the substitute property owned or
had an interest in contraband with an aggregate value of $200,000 or
more in connection with the commission of an underlying offense
giving rise to the forfeiture.
SECTION 2. Article 59.05(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) All cases under this chapter shall proceed to trial in
the same manner as in other civil cases. The state has the burden of
proving by clear and convincing [a preponderance of the] evidence
that property is subject to forfeiture.
SECTION 3. Section 12.1106(d), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) The court shall order the seized property:
(1) forfeited to the department if the court
determines by clear and convincing [a preponderance of the]
evidence that:
(A) the seized property is contraband and a
person pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, was convicted of, or
was placed on deferred adjudication for:
(i) an offense under Section 66.006,
Section 66.2011, or Subchapter G, Chapter 43, of this code; or
(ii) a second or subsequent offense under
Section 61.022, 62.003, 62.004, or 62.005 of this code; or
(B) the seized property is contraband and no
person was arrested for an offense immediately after the warden or
officer seized the property; or
(2) released to the owner if:
(A) the person charged with an offense under
Section 66.006, Section 66.2011, or Subchapter G, Chapter 43, of
this code or a second or subsequent offense under Section 61.022,
62.003, 62.004, or 62.005 of this code is acquitted or the charge is
dismissed; or
(B) the court determines that the seized property
is not contraband.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a forfeiture proceeding that begins on or after the effective
date of this Act. A forfeiture proceeding that begins before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the proceeding begins, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.