Bill > H1213

This bill proposes to amend existing law to ensure that money seized from drug-related offenses is used for crime prevention and rehabilitation programs. Specifically, it mandates that a portion of these seized funds will be directed to the Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative Fund, which supports efforts to combat gang violence and fund community-based drug treatment and education. The bill also outlines how the remaining seized money will be distributed among prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement departments involved in the seizure, with provisions for equitable distribution if multiple departments were involved. Furthermore, it allows for up to ten percent of these funds to be used for drug rehabilitation, education, and neighborhood crime watch programs that support law enforcement goals. To ensure transparency, the bill requires district attorneys, the attorney general, and the secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to publicly report on the amounts collected and how they are spent, with similar reporting requirements for local police chiefs. The Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative Fund itself will be a dedicated fund, separate from the general state budget, and will be administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to support community-based prevention and drug treatment efforts.