MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representatives Baker, Brown
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF NARCOTICS TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SEARCHABLE PUBLIC WEBSITE WHICH INCLUDES CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING PROPERTY THAT IS SEIZED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SEIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE THE APPLICABLE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THIS ACT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY; TO REQUIRE EACH DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO UPLOAD THE APPLICABLE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THIS ACT TO THE MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF NARCOTICS WEBSITE; TO REQUIRE THE WEBSITE TO BE DESIGNED IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THE INFORMATION TO BE UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE; TO OUTLINE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE WEBSITE SHALL BE CREATED AND FUNCTIONAL NO MORE THAN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE THAT THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR SUCH PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE A REQUIRED TIME PERIOD FOR A SEIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO PROVIDE THE APPLICABLE INFORMATION TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY WAS SEIZED; TO PROVIDE THE TIME PERIOD REQUIRED FOR A DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO UPLOAD THE REQUIRED INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMANDER OF A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TASKFORCE TO APPOINT ONE AGENCY TO REPORT ITS SEIZURES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY WAS SEIZED; TO PROVIDE THE DEFINITION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; TO PROVIDE THAT FAILURE TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLY WITH THIS ACT SHALL DISQUALIFY THE SEIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM APPLYING FOR OR RECEIVING FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS; TO REQUIRE THE SEIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO REQUEST THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS SEIZED OR THE MISSISSIPPI BUREAU OF NARCOTICS TO PROSECUTE CASES INVOLVING SEIZED PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A SEIZURE WARRANT; TO REQUIRE THE SEIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO OBTAIN A SEIZURE WARRANT FROM A CIRCUIT OR COUNTY JUDGE HAVING JURISDICTION WITHIN 72 HOURS OF ANY SEIZURE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-29-157, 41-29-176, 41-29-177, 41-29-183 AND 41-29-179, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics shall establish and maintain a public website that is searchable by case numbers created by the bureau which tracks seized property from the time of seizure to final disposition of the property. The website shall be designed in a manner that allows the information required by this section to be uploaded to the website. The website shall include the following information regarding property that is seized by a law enforcement agency pursuant to Section 41-29-153:
(a) The name of the law enforcement agency that seized the property;
(b) A description of each item seized, including the approximate value of the property;
(c) A copy of the notice of intent to forfeit as described in Section 41-29-176 or the petition for forfeiture as described in Section 41-29-177, whichever is applicable;
(d) A copy of any petition to contest forfeiture filed as described in Section 41-29-176;
(e) If a forfeiture was obtained because no petition to contest forfeiture was timely filed as provided in Section 41-29-176, a copy of the written declaration of forfeiture as required by Section 41-29-176;
(f) If a forfeiture is obtained under Section 41-29-177, a copy of any final judgment or dispositive order regarding the merits of the petition for forfeiture; and
(g) If the forfeiture was initiated under Section 41-29-176 and a petition to contest is filed, a copy of any final order or other dispositive order regarding the forfeiture.
(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section for the bureau, upon seizure of any property by a law enforcement agency pursuant to Section 41-29-153, the seizing law enforcement agency shall provide the applicable information required by subsection (1) of this section to the district attorney of the county in which the property was seized within thirty (30) days of such seizure. However, if the bureau is conducting the seizure of property on behalf of a law enforcement agency, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall apply. Within thirty (30) days of service of notice of intent to forfeit as described in Section 41-29-176 or the filing of a petition for forfeiture as described in Section 41-29-177 in a court of competent jurisdiction, the district attorney shall upload the information required by this section to the bureau's website. Within thirty (30) days of service of a petition to contest forfeiture as described by Section 41-29-176, the district attorney shall upload the information required by the section to the bureau's website. Within thirty (30) days of dispositive actions regarding any seized property, the District Attorney shall upload the applicable information required by subsection (1) of this section to the bureau's website. The commander of a multijurisdictional taskforce may appoint one (1) agency to report its seizures to the district attorney of the county in which the property was seized. Any law enforcement agency that fails to provide the information required by this section shall be disqualified from applying for or receiving state grants.
(b) Upon seizure of any property by the bureau pursuant to Section 41-29-153 or pursuant to a request by a law enforcement agency for the bureau to seize property on behalf of the law enforcement agency, the bureau shall upload the information required by this subsection on its website within thirty (30) days of the seizure, or from the time of the receipt of the request from the law enforcement agency.
(3) Failure to upload the information required by this section shall not invalidate the seizure or otherwise preclude the same.
(4) The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics shall adopt rules and regulations that are necessary to implement this section.
(5) For purposes of this section, the term "law enforcement agency" includes any person or entity having seizure authority under Section 41-29-159.
(6) Failure to substantially comply with the provisions of this section shall disqualify the seizing law enforcement agency from applying for or receiving federal or state grants until such time as in compliance with this section.
(7) The provisions of this section shall be required only at such time as the Legislature has appropriated funds for the bureau to create and maintain the required website. The website shall be created and functionally operational, not more than twelve (12) months from the date that sufficient funds have been appropriated for that purpose. The bureau shall provide at least thirty (30) days notice in advance of the date when the website will be operational to each district attorney in the state.
SECTION 2. The seizing law enforcement agency shall within thirty (30) days of a seizure, request either the district attorney of the county in which property is seized or the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to prosecute any cases involving seized property. No one other than the district attorney of the county in which the seizure occurred or an attorney from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics shall have authority to prosecute the forfeiture of the seized property. If the district attorney and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics decline to prosecute the forfeiture of the seized property, the seizing law enforcement agency shall notify the person from whom the property was seized that the property will not be forfeited, within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice not to prosecute, and shall provide written instructions advising the person how to retrieve the seized property.
SECTION 3. Section 41-29-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-153. (a) The following are subject to forfeiture:
(1) All controlled substances which have been manufactured, distributed, dispensed or acquired in violation of this article or in violation of Article 5 of this chapter;
(2) All raw materials, products and equipment of any kind which are used, or intended for use, in manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivering, importing, or exporting any controlled substance in violation of this article or in violation of Article 5 of this chapter;
(3) All property which is used, or intended for use, as a container for property described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection;
(4) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles or vessels, which are used, or intended for use, to transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, sale, receipt, possession or concealment of property described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, however:
A. No conveyance used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier is subject to forfeiture under this section unless it appears that the owner or other person in charge of the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of this article;
B. No conveyance is subject to forfeiture under this section by reason of any act or omission proved by the owner thereof to have been committed or omitted without his knowledge or consent; if the confiscating authority has reason to believe that the conveyance is a leased or rented conveyance, then the confiscating authority shall notify the owner of the conveyance within five (5) days of the confiscation;
C. A forfeiture of a conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if he neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission;
D. A conveyance is
not subject to forfeiture for a violation of Section 41-29-139(c)(2)(A) * * * 1,2 or (C)1,2,3;
(5) All money, deadly weapons, books, records, and research products and materials, including formulas, microfilm, tapes and data which are used, or intended for use, in violation of this article or in violation of Article 5 of this chapter;
(6) All drug paraphernalia as defined in Section 41-29-105(v); and
(7) Everything of value, including real estate, furnished, or intended to be furnished, in exchange for a controlled substance in violation of this article, all proceeds traceable to such an exchange, and all monies, negotiable instruments, businesses or business investments, securities, and other things of value used, or intended to be used, to facilitate any violation of this article. All monies, coin and currency found in close proximity to forfeitable controlled substances, to forfeitable drug manufacturing or distributing paraphernalia, or to forfeitable records of the importation, manufacture or distribution of controlled substances are presumed to be forfeitable under this paragraph; the burden of proof is upon claimants of the property to rebut this presumption.
A. No property shall be forfeited under the provisions of subsection (a)(7) of this section, to the extent of the interest of an owner, by reason of any act or omission established by him to have been committed or omitted without his knowledge or consent.
B. Neither personal property encumbered by a bona fide security interest nor real estate encumbered by a bona fide mortgage, deed of trust, lien or encumbrance shall be forfeited under the provisions of subsection (a)(7) of this section, to the extent of the interest of the secured party or the interest of the mortgagee, holder of a deed of trust, lien or encumbrance by reason of any act or omission established by him to have been committed or omitted without his knowledge or consent.
(b) Property subject to forfeiture may be seized by the bureau, local law enforcement officers, enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, highway patrolmen, the board, or the State Board of Pharmacy upon process issued by any appropriate court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure without process may be made if:
(1) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant or an inspection under an administrative inspection warrant;
(2) The property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in a criminal injunction or forfeiture proceeding based upon this article;
(3) The bureau, the
board, local law enforcement officers, enforcement officers of the Mississippi
Department of Transportation, or highway patrolmen, or the State Board of
Pharmacy have probable cause to believe that the property is directly or
indirectly dangerous to health or safety; * * *
(4) The bureau, local
law enforcement officers, enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of
Transportation, highway patrolmen, the board, or the State Board of Pharmacy
have probable cause to believe that the property was used or is intended to be
used in violation of this article * * *; or
(5) The seizing law enforcement agency obtained a seizure warrant as described in paragraph (f) of this section.
(c) Controlled substances listed in Schedule I of Section 41-29-113 that are possessed, transferred, sold, or offered for sale in violation of this article are contraband and shall be seized and summarily forfeited to the state. Controlled substances listed in the said Schedule I, which are seized or come into the possession of the state, the owners of which are unknown, are contraband and shall be summarily forfeited to the state.
(d) Species of plants from which controlled substances in Schedules I and II of Sections 41-29-113 and 41-29-115 may be derived which have been planted or cultivated in violation of this article, or of which the owners or cultivators are unknown, or which are wild growths, may be seized and summarily forfeited to the state.
(e) The failure, upon demand by the bureau and/or local law enforcement officers, or their authorized agents, or highway patrolmen designated by the bureau, the board, or the State Board of Pharmacy, of the person in occupancy or in control of land or premises upon which the species of plants are growing or being stored, to produce an appropriate registration, or proof that he is the holder thereof, constitutes authority for the seizure and forfeiture of the plants.
(f) (1) When any property is seized under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, by a law enforcement agency with the intent to be forfeited, the law enforcement agency that seized the property shall obtain a seizure warrant from the county or circuit court having jurisdiction of such property within seventy-two (72) hours of any seizure, excluding weekends and holidays. Any law enforcement agency that fails to obtain a seizure warrant within seventy-two (72) hours as required by this section shall notify the person from whom the property was seized that it will not be forfeited and shall provide written instructions advising the person how to retrieve the seized property.
(2) A circuit or county judge having jurisdiction of any property other than a controlled substance, raw material or paraphernalia, may issue a seizure warrant upon proper oath or affirmation from a law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency that is seeking a seizure warrant shall provide the following information to the judge:
A. Probable cause to believe that the property was used or intended to be used in violation of this article;
B. The name of the person from whom the property was seized; and
C. A detailed description of the property which is seized, including the value of the property.
(3) This subsection does not apply to seizures performed pursuant to Section 41-29-157 when property is specifically set forth in a search and seizure warrant.
SECTION 4. Section 41-29-157, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-157. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session, issuance and execution of administrative inspection warrants and search warrants shall be as follows, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section:
(1) A judge of any state court of record, or any justice court judge within his jurisdiction, and upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, may issue warrants for the purpose of conducting administrative inspections authorized by this article or rules thereunder, and seizures of property appropriate to the inspections. For purposes of the issuance of administrative inspection warrants, probable cause exists upon showing a valid public interest in the effective enforcement of this article or rules thereunder, sufficient to justify administrative inspection of the area, premises, building or conveyance in the circumstances specified in the application for the warrant. All such warrants shall be served during normal business hours;
(2) A search warrant shall issue only upon an affidavit of a person having knowledge or information of the facts alleged, sworn to before the judge or justice court judge and establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant. If the judge or justice court judge is satisfied that grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to believe they exist, he shall issue a warrant identifying the area, premises, building or conveyance to be searched, the purpose of the search, and, if appropriate, the type of property to be searched, if any. The warrant shall:
(A) State the grounds for its issuance and the name of each person whose affidavit has been taken in support thereof;
(B) Be directed to a person authorized by Section 41-29-159 to execute it;
(C) Command the person to whom it is directed to inspect the area, premises, building or conveyance identified for the purpose specified, and if appropriate, direct the seizure of the property specified;
(D) Identify the item or types of property to be seized, if any;
(E) Direct that it be served and designate the judge or magistrate to whom it shall be returned;
(3) A warrant issued pursuant to this section must be executed and returned within ten (10) days of its date unless, upon a showing of a need for additional time, the court orders otherwise. If property is seized pursuant to a warrant, a copy shall be given to the person from whom or from whose premises the property is taken, together with a receipt for the property taken. The return of the warrant shall be made promptly, accompanied by a written inventory of any property taken. The inventory shall be made in the presence of the person executing the warrant and of the person from whose possession or premises the property was taken, if present, or in the presence of at least one (1) credible person other than the person executing the warrant. A copy of the inventory shall be delivered to the person from whom or from whose premises the property was taken and to the applicant for the warrant;
(4) The judge or justice court judge who has issued a warrant shall attach thereto a copy of the return and all papers returnable in connection therewith and file them with the clerk of the appropriate state court for the judicial district in which the inspection was made.
(b) The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing or the State Board of Optometry may make administrative inspections of controlled premises in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) For purposes of this section only, "controlled premises" means:
(A) Places where persons registered or exempted from registration requirements under this article are required to keep records; and
(B) Places including factories, warehouses, establishments and conveyances in which persons registered or exempted from registration requirements under this article are permitted to hold, manufacture, compound, process, sell, deliver, or otherwise dispose of any controlled substance.
(2) When authorized by an administrative inspection warrant issued in accordance with the conditions imposed in this section, an officer or employee designated by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing or the State Board of Optometry, upon presenting the warrant and appropriate credentials to the owner, operator or agent in charge, may enter controlled premises for the purpose of conducting an administrative inspection.
(3) When authorized by an administrative inspection warrant, an officer or employee designated by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Medical Licensure, the State Board of Dental Examiners, the Mississippi Board of Nursing or the State Board of Optometry may:
(A) Inspect and copy records required by this article to be kept;
(B) Inspect, within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, controlled premises and all pertinent equipment, finished and unfinished material, containers and labeling found therein, and, except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection, all other things therein, including records, files, papers, processes, controls and facilities bearing on violation of this article; and
(C) Inventory any stock of any controlled substance therein and obtain samples thereof.
(4) This section does not prevent the inspection without a warrant of books and records pursuant to an administrative subpoena, nor does it prevent entries and administrative inspections, including seizures of property, without a warrant:
(A) If the owner, operator or agent in charge of the controlled premises consents;
(B) In situations presenting imminent danger to health or safety;
(C) In situations involving inspection of conveyances if there is reasonable cause to believe that the mobility of the conveyance makes it impracticable to obtain a warrant;
(D) In any other exceptional or emergency circumstance where time or opportunity to apply for a warrant is lacking; or
(E) In all other situations in which a warrant is not constitutionally required.
(5) An inspection authorized by this section shall not extend to financial data, sales data, other than shipment data, or pricing data unless the owner, operator or agent in charge of the controlled premises consents in writing.
(c) Any agent of the bureau authorized to execute a search warrant involving controlled substances, the penalty for which is imprisonment for more than one (1) year, may, without notice of his authority and purpose, break open an outer door or inner door, or window of a building, or any part of the building, if the judge issuing the warrant:
(1) Is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that:
(A) The property sought may, and, if such notice is given, will be easily and quickly destroyed or disposed of; or
(B) The giving of such notice will immediately endanger the life or safety of the executing officer or another person; and
(2) Has included in the warrant a direction that the officer executing the warrant shall not be required to give such notice.
Any officer acting under such warrant shall, as soon as practical, after entering the premises, identify himself and give the reasons and authority for his entrance upon the premises.
Search warrants which include the instruction that the executing officer shall not be required to give notice of authority and purpose as authorized by this subsection shall be issued only by the county court or county judge in vacation, chancery court or by the chancellor in vacation, by the circuit court or circuit judge in vacation, or by a justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.
This subsection shall expire and stand repealed from and after July 1, 1974, except that the repeal shall not affect the validity or legality of any search authorized under this subsection and conducted prior to July 1, 1974.
SECTION 5. Section 41-29-176, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
* * *
41-29-176. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session, when any property other than a controlled substance, raw material or paraphernalia, the value of which does not exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), is seized under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, the property may be forfeited by the administrative forfeiture procedures provided for in this section.
(2) The * * * district attorney, his or her designee, or
an attorney from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics shall provide notice
of intention to forfeit the seized property administratively, either by
certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal delivery, to all
persons who are required to be notified pursuant to Section 41-29-177(2).
(3) If notice of intention to forfeit the seized property administratively cannot be given as provided in subsection (2) of this section because of refusal, failure to claim, insufficient address or any other reason, the attorney for or representative of the seizing law enforcement agency shall provide notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the seizure occurred for once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks. However, if the value of the property seized does not exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), substitute notice under this subsection (3) of intention to administratively forfeit the property may be made by posting a notice on an official state government forfeiture site for at least thirty (30) consecutive days. The site shall be created and maintained by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Should other seizing law enforcement agencies choose to utilize the site for Internet publication, the bureau may charge a reasonable fee for such usage.
(4) Notice pursuant to subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall include the following information:
(a) A description of the property;
(b) The approximate value of the property;
(c) The date and place of the seizure;
(d) The connection between the property and the violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law;
(e) The instructions for filing a request for judicial review; and
(f) A statement that the property will be forfeited to the seizing law enforcement agency if a request for judicial review is not timely filed.
(5) Any person claiming an interest in property which is the subject of a notice under this section may, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice or of the date of the first publication of the notice, file a petition to contest forfeiture signed by the claimant in the county court, if a county court exists, or otherwise in the circuit court of the county in which the seizure is made or the county in which the criminal prosecution is brought, in order to claim an interest in the property. Upon the filing of the petition and the payment of the filing fees, service of the petition shall be made on the attorney for or representative of the seizing law enforcement agency, and the proceedings shall thereafter be governed by the rules of civil procedure.
(6) If no petition to
contest forfeiture is timely filed and a seizure warrant was properly
obtained, the district attorney or his or her designee or the attorney for
the * * * bureau, as applicable, for the shall
prepare a written declaration of forfeiture of the subject property and the
forfeited property shall be used, distributed or disposed of in accordance with
the provisions of Section 41-29-181.
* * *
SECTION 6. Section 41-29-177, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-177. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 41-29-176, Mississippi Code of 1972, and in Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session, when any property, other than a controlled substance, raw material or paraphernalia, is seized under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, proceedings under this section shall be instituted within thirty (30) days from the date of seizure or the subject property shall be immediately returned to the party from whom seized.
(2) A petition for forfeiture shall be filed by the district attorney or his or her designee, or an attorney for the bureau, as applicable, in the name of the State of Mississippi, the county or the municipality and may be filed in the county in which the seizure is made, the county in which the criminal prosecution is brought or the county in which the owner of the seized property is found. Forfeiture proceedings may be brought in the circuit court or the county court if a county court exists in the county and the value of the seized property is within the jurisdictional limits of the county court as set forth in Section 9-9-21, Mississippi Code of 1972. A copy of such petition shall be served upon the following persons by service of process in the same manner as in civil cases:
(a) The owner of the property, if address is known;
(b) Any secured party who has registered his lien or filed a financing statement as provided by law, if the identity of such secured party can be ascertained by the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency by making a good faith effort to ascertain the identity of such secured party as described in subsections (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of this section;
(c) Any other bona fide lienholder or secured party or other person holding an interest in the property in the nature of a security interest of whom the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency has actual knowledge;
(d) Any holder of a mortgage, deed of trust, lien or encumbrance of record, if the property is real estate, by making a good faith inquiry as described in subsection (8) of this section; and
(e) Any person in possession of property subject to forfeiture at the time that it was seized.
(3) If the property is a
motor vehicle susceptible of titling under the Mississippi Motor Vehicle Title
Law and if there is any reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle has been
titled, the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall make
inquiry of the * * * Department of Revenue as to what the records
of the * * * Department of Revenue show as to who is the record
owner of the vehicle and who, if anyone, holds any lien or security interest
which affects the vehicle.
(4) If the property is a motor vehicle and is not titled in the State of Mississippi, then the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall attempt to ascertain the name and address of the person in whose name the vehicle is licensed, and if the vehicle is licensed in a state which has in effect a certificate of title law, the bureau or the local law enforcement agency shall make inquiry of the appropriate agency of that state as to what the records of the agency show as to who is the record owner of the vehicle and who, if anyone, holds any lien, security interest or other instrument in the nature of a security device which affects the vehicle.
(5) If the property is of a nature that a financing statement is required by the laws of this state to be filed to perfect a security interest affecting the property and if there is any reasonable cause to believe that a financing statement covering the security interest has been filed under the laws of this state, the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall make inquiry of the appropriate office designated in Section 75-9-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, as to what the records show as to who is the record owner of the property and who, if anyone, has filed a financing statement affecting the property.
(6) If the property is an aircraft or part thereof and if there is any reasonable cause to believe that an instrument in the nature of a security device affects the property, then the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall make inquiry of the Mississippi Department of Transportation as to what the records of the Federal Aviation Administration show as to who is the record owner of the property and who, if anyone, holds an instrument in the nature of a security device which affects the property.
(7) In the case of all other personal property subject to forfeiture, if there is any reasonable cause to believe that an instrument in the nature of a security device affects the property, then the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall make a good faith inquiry to identify the holder of any such instrument.
(8) If the property is real estate, the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall make inquiry of the chancery clerk of the county wherein the property is located to determine who is the owner of record and who, if anyone, is a holder of a bona fide mortgage, deed of trust, lien or encumbrance.
(9) In the event the answer to an inquiry states that the record owner of the property is any person other than the person who was in possession of it when it was seized, or states that any person holds any lien, encumbrance, security interest, other interest in the nature of a security interest, mortgage or deed of trust which affects the property, the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall cause any record owner and also any lienholder, secured party, other person who holds an interest in the property in the nature of a security interest, or holder of an encumbrance, mortgage or deed of trust which affects the property to be named in the petition of forfeiture and to be served with process in the same manner as in civil cases.
(10) If the owner of the property cannot be found and served with a copy of the petition of forfeiture, or if no person was in possession of the property subject to forfeiture at the time that it was seized and the owner of the property is unknown, the Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency shall file with the clerk of the court in which the proceeding is pending an affidavit to such effect, whereupon the clerk of the court shall publish notice of the hearing addressed to "the Unknown Owner of _______________," filling in the blank space with a reasonably detailed description of the property subject to forfeiture. Service by publication shall contain the other requisites prescribed in Section 11-33-41, and shall be served as provided in Section 11-33-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, for publication of notice for attachments at law.
(11) No proceedings instituted pursuant to the provisions of this article shall proceed to hearing unless the judge conducting the hearing is satisfied that this section and Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session has been complied with. Any answer received from an inquiry required by subsections (3) through (8) of this section shall be introduced into evidence at the hearing.
SECTION 7. Section 41-29-183, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-183. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session. The forfeiture procedure set forth in Sections 41-29-177 through 41-29-181 is the sole remedy of any claimant, and no court shall have jurisdiction to interfere therewith by replevin, injunction, supersedeas or in any other manner.
SECTION 8. Section 41-29-179, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-29-179. (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 41-29-176 and Section 1 of House Bill No. 812, 2017 Regular Session, an owner of property, other than a controlled substance, raw material or paraphernalia, that has been seized shall file an answer within thirty (30) days after the completion of service of process. If an answer is not filed, the court shall hear evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture and forfeit the property to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency. If an answer is filed, a time for hearing on forfeiture shall be set within thirty (30) days of filing the answer or at the succeeding term of court if court would not be in progress within thirty (30) days after filing the answer. Provided, however, that upon request by the Bureau of Narcotics, the local law enforcement agency or the owner of the property, the court may postpone said forfeiture hearing to a date past the time any criminal action is pending against said owner.
(2) If the owner of the property has filed an answer denying that the property is subject to forfeiture, then the burden is on the petitioner to prove that the property is subject to forfeiture. However, if an answer has not been filed by the owner of the property, the petition for forfeiture may be introduced into evidence and is prima facie evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture. The standard of proof placed upon the petitioner in regard to property forfeited under the provisions of this article shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.
(3) At the hearing any claimant of any right, title or interest in the property may prove his lien, encumbrance, security interest, other interest in the nature of a security interest, mortgage or deed of trust to be bona fide and created without knowledge or consent that the property was to be used so as to cause the property to be subject to forfeiture.
(4) If it is found that the property is subject to forfeiture, then the judge shall forfeit the property to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency. However, if proof at the hearing discloses that the interest of any bona fide lienholder, secured party, other person holding an interest in the property in the nature of a security interest, or any holder of a bona fide encumbrance, mortgage or deed of trust is greater than or equal to the present value of the property, the court shall order the property released to him. If such interest is less than the present value of the property and if the proof shows that the property is subject to forfeiture, the court shall order the property forfeited to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics or the local law enforcement agency.
(5) Upon a petition filed in the name of the State of Mississippi, the county or the municipality with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the seizure of any controlled substance or raw material is made, the circuit court having jurisdiction may order the controlled substance or raw material summarily forfeited except when lawful possession and title can be ascertained. If a person is found to have had lawful possession and title prior to seizure, the court shall order the controlled substance or raw material returned to the owner, if the owner so desires. Upon a petition filed in the name of the State of Mississippi, the county or the municipality with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the seizure of any purported paraphernalia is made, the circuit court having jurisdiction may order such seized property summarily forfeited when the court has determined the seized property to be paraphernalia as defined in Section 41-29-105(v).
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.