SB495 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Shadrack McGill
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Jackson Co., sheriff authorized to sell certain abandoned, unclaimed, or stolen property, and firearms, distribution of funds for law enforcement purposes
Summary: Authorizes the Jackson County Sheriff to auction and dispose of abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed property, including firearms, with sale proceeds directed to law enforcement and procedures for notices, owner claims, and records.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires the Sheriff to keep permanent records of abandoned and stolen property and to store items properly. Perishable items can be sold quickly if the owner cannot be located, with six months for the owner to claim proceeds. Firearms are tracked and may be sold only to licensed gun dealers after six months if unclaimed, or destroyed; non-firearm property is sold at public auctions after six months with notice to the public. Proceeds from sales go to the Sheriff's Office to be used for law enforcement purposes, and owners can reclaim items before sale by paying recovery and storage costs.

Who It Affects
Property owners in Jackson County who have abandoned or stolen items recovered by the sheriff: they can reclaim their property before sale by showing proof of ownership and paying costs, or receive proceeds if items are sold and unclaimed.
Licensed gun dealers and members of the public interested in buying recovered items: gun dealers with at least one year of licensing can bid on firearms (sold to the highest bidder for cash), and the public can bid on other property at auctions after six months; notices must be published or posted.

Key Provisions
The Sheriff must maintain permanent, public-records of all abandoned and stolen property, including description, recovery date, and identifying numbers.
Perishable property may be sold immediately if the owner cannot be located; sale proceeds are held for six months and then paid to the owner after deducting recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale costs; if unclaimed, funds go to the Sheriff.
A permanent record for firearms must be kept; firearms may be sold or destroyed if unclaimed after six months; firearms may be sold only to licensed gun dealers who have held an active license for at least one year; sale is to the highest sealed bid and is cash-based.
The Sheriff may establish procedures to destroy firearms and to notify dealers of sales; firearms held on the act’s effective date remain under this section for at least six months.
Public auctions must be held for non-firearm property after six months if unclaimed; notices of the auction must be published or posted at least 20 days prior.
Owners can claim property before sale by providing proof of ownership and paying related costs and a share of publication costs.
Proceeds from sales are deposited with the Sheriff and used solely for law enforcement purposes.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Jackson County