H.B. 5398, An Act Prohibiting State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies from Providing Certain Property to a Federal Agency for the Purpose of Such Property's Forfeiture

In 2017, the Connecticut legislature unanimously passed a bill into law that allows Connecticut prosecutors to use civil asset forfeiture to keep someone's property only after that person has been convicted of a crime, and if the property is related to that conviction. A loophole, however, could allow local law enforcement to confiscate people's property through the federal asset forfeiture program, also known as the equitable sharing program, without that conviction requirement. This bill would close that loophole. Seven other states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to stop law enforcement from circumventing state asset forfeiture laws by using the federal program, and Connecticut should be next. It is important for the legislature to act this session to ensure that law enforcement follows the meaningful due process protections the legislature passed last year.