HB464 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Mike Jones

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Escambia Co., sheriff authorized to sell certain abandoned, unclaimed, or stolen property, and firearms, notice, record keeping requirement, distribution of funds for law enforcement purposes

Summary

HB464 lets the Escambia County Sheriff auction off abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed property—and certain firearms—while keeping required records and directing sale proceeds to law enforcement use.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill requires the sheriff to keep permanent records of abandoned and stolen property and firearms and to store it to prevent deterioration. Perishable items can be sold without notice after owner-tracing efforts fail, with six months for the owner to claim the proceeds before they go to the sheriff. Non-firearm property can be sold at public or internet auctions after six months with notice to the public, and owners may claim items by proving ownership and paying reasonable recovery and storage costs. Firearms can be sold only to licensed gun dealers after six months if unclaimed, with highest sealed bid winning and cash payment; proceeds go to the sheriff’s office, and the sheriff may destroy firearms as allowed by law. Proceeds from all sales go into the sheriff’s fund to be used for law enforcement purposes.

Who It Affects

• Owners of abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed property in Escambia County, who may claim or recover their property for a period after sale.
• The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, which gains new authority to record, store, sell, and dispose of property and to use sale proceeds for law enforcement purposes.
• Licensed gun dealers (FFLs), who may bid on firearms and purchase them through the sheriff's sale process.
• Members of the public and potential bidders who may participate in auctions (including internet auctions) of non-firearm property.

Key Provisions

• Permanent public records of abandoned and stolen property, including description, recovery date, identifying numbers, and recovery location; public access to records; proper storage to prevent deterioration.
• For perishable items, property may be sold without notice if owner cannot be located; six-month window for owners to claim proceeds, with deductions for recovery, storage, and sale costs; unclaimed funds revert to the sheriff's office.
• Permanent records for abandoned or stolen firearms with identification details and owner-notification efforts across counties; firearms may be sold or destroyed if unclaimed after six months; sales limited to licensed gun dealers; highest sealed bid wins; cash sale; proceeds go to the sheriff's office.
• Authority to sell non-firearm property at public or internet auctions after six months of non-claim, with required public notice; owner can claim by proving ownership and paying costs.
• Sales can be paused or continued if bids are unreasonably low or if no bidders are present; storage records updated to reflect sales.
• Proceeds from all auctions, after expenses, go into the Escambia County sheriff’s fund and can be used exclusively for law enforcement purposes.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Escambia County