HOUSE BILL No. 6003

 

December 2, 2014, Introduced by Rep. Knezek and referred to the Committee on Local Government.

 

     A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled

 

"Revised judicature act of 1961,"

 

by amending sections 4704 and 4706a (MCL 600.4704 and 600.4706a),

 

section 4704 as amended by 2006 PA 128 and section 4706a as added

 

by 1988 PA 104.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 4704. (1) Within 7 days after personal property is seized

 

or a lien notice is filed against real property under section 4703,

 

the seizing agency or, if the property is real property, the

 

attorney general, the prosecuting attorney, or the city or township

 

attorney shall give notice of the seizure of the property and the

 

intent to forfeit and dispose of the property according to this

 

chapter to each of the following persons:


 

     (a) If charges have been filed against a person for a crime,

 

the person charged.

 

     (b) Each person with a known ownership interest in the

 

property.

 

     (c) Each mortgagee, person holding a security interest, or

 

person having a lien that appears on the certificate of title or is

 

on file with the secretary of state or recorded with the

 

appropriate register of deeds, if the property is real property ,

 

or a mobile home, motor vehicle, watercraft, or other personal

 

property.

 

     (d) Each holder of a preferred ship mortgage of record in the

 

appropriate public office pursuant to under 46 USC 30101, 31301-

 

31343, 31301 to 31343, if the property is a watercraft more than 28

 

feet long or a watercraft that has a capacity of 5 net tons or

 

more.

 

     (e) Each person whose security interest is recorded with the

 

appropriate public office pursuant to under the federal aviation

 

act of 1958, Public Law 85-726, if the property is an aircraft,

 

aircraft engine, or aircraft propeller, or a part of an aircraft,

 

aircraft engine, or aircraft propeller.

 

     (f) Each person with a known security interest in the

 

property.

 

     (g) Each victim of the crime.

 

     (2) The notice required under subsection (1) shall must be a

 

written notice delivered to the person or sent to the person by

 

certified mail. If the name and address of the person are not

 

reasonably ascertainable or delivery of the notice cannot


 

reasonably be accomplished, the notice shall be published, before

 

January 1, 2015, in a newspaper of general circulation in the

 

county in which the personal property was seized or the real

 

property is located for 10 successive publishing days or, after

 

December 31, 2014, in the manner provided under the Michigan court

 

rules for publication of notice as ordered by a court. Proof of

 

written notice or publication shall be filed with the court having

 

that has jurisdiction over the seizure or forfeiture.

 

     (3) If personal property was seized, the seizing agency shall

 

immediately notify the prosecuting attorney for the county in which

 

the property was seized or, if the attorney general is actively

 

handling a case involving or relating to the property, the attorney

 

general of the seizure of the property and the intent to forfeit

 

and dispose of the property according to this chapter.

 

     (4) An The seizing agency shall give an attorney for a person

 

described in subsection (1)(a) shall be afforded a period of 60

 

days within which to examine money seized under section 4703. This

 

60-day period shall begin to run begins after notice is given under

 

subsection (1) but and before the money is deposited into with a

 

financial institution.

 

     Sec. 4706a. (1) Within 7 days after personal property is

 

returned to the owner , or a lien filed against real property or a

 

motor vehicle is discharged pursuant to under section 4706, the

 

seizing agency , or, if the property is real property, the attorney

 

general, the prosecuting attorney, or the city or township attorney

 

who gave notice of the seizure of the property and the intent to

 

forfeit and dispose of the property pursuant to under section 4704,


 

shall give notice to the persons who received notice pursuant to

 

under section 4704 that the property has been returned to the owner

 

or that the lien has been discharged pursuant to under section

 

4706.

 

     (2) The notice required under subsection (1) shall be a

 

written notice must be in writing and delivered to the person or

 

sent to the person by certified mail. If the name and address of

 

the person are not reasonably ascertainable or delivery of the

 

notice cannot reasonably be accomplished, the notice shall must be

 

published as follows:

 

     (a) Before January 1, 2015, in a newspaper of general

 

circulation in the county in which the personal property was seized

 

or the real property is located for 10 successive publishing days.

 

     (b) After December 31, 2014, in the manner provided under the

 

Michigan court rules for publication of notice as ordered by a

 

court.