SB 239

Under current law, the personal property of an individual who dies while he or

she is a patient at a county institution or whose body has been taken charge of by the

coroner or medical examiner is, if unclaimed for one year, delivered to the county

sheriff and subject to sale. Any personal property left at the county jail by a prisoner

after the discharge, transfer, or other commitment of the prisoner, and unclaimed for

more than one year, or any property, found or stolen, which comes into the sheriff's

possession and remains unclaimed for more than one year, is also subject to sale by

the sheriff. Each year on or before August 1, the sheriff must post a notice at three

public places in the county describing the place and time of a public auction at which

the unclaimed personal property held by the sheriff will be sold. The auction must

be held as described in the notice. Any remaining personal property may be sold for

the best price obtainable or, if it cannot be sold, destroyed in the presence of the

sheriff. Any proceeds of the sale of personal property is remitted to the county

treasurer for inclusion in the general fund of the county.

Under this bill, the sheriff may choose to sell the personal property at a public

auction at either a specified physical location or an Internet site.