HB513 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Van SmithRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Chilton 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

Authorizes the Chilton County Sheriff to sell abandoned, stolen, confiscated, lost, or unclaimed property and firearms at public auctions, with required records, notices, and proceeds used for law enforcement.

What This Bill Does

The sheriff must keep permanent public records of recovered property and ensure items are stored to prevent deterioration. Perishable unclaimed items can be sold immediately with the proceeds held for six months for the owner; if unclaimed, net funds go to the Sheriff’s Office. Firearms recovered but not otherwise disposed of can be sold to licensed gun dealers or destroyed after six months if unclaimed, with sales to the highest bidder and proceeds going to the Sheriff’s Office. Non-firearm property unclaimed for at least six months can be sold at public or online auctions with required notice; owners may claim items before sale by proving ownership and paying costs. Proceeds from all sales go to the Sheriff’s Fund for use in law enforcement.

Who It Affects

• Property owners in Chilton County who may reclaim abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed items before they are sold, by proving ownership and paying associated costs.
• Gun dealers with a current federal firearms license (FFL) who may bid on and purchase firearms sold by the sheriff at auctions.

Key Provisions

• The sheriff must keep a permanent public record of all abandoned or stolen property, including description, recovery date, identifying numbers, and place of recovery.
• For perishable property not claimed, the sheriff may sell it immediately and hold the proceeds for six months for the owner; if unclaimed, net proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Office.
• A separate permanent record must be kept for firearms; unclaimed firearms may be sold or destroyed after six months; sales are limited to FFL dealers and proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Office.
• Non-firearm property unclaimed for six months may be sold at public or online auctions with required notice; owners can claim property before sale.
• Sales records must note the sale and amount; the sheriff can reject unreasonably low bids and may continue the sale if no bidders.
• Sale proceeds go into the Sheriff’s Fund, to be used exclusively for law enforcement purposes by the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Chilton County