2019 Montana Code Annotated
Title 7. Local Government
Chapter 8. Acquisition, Transfer, and Management of Property and Buildings
Part 1. General Provisions Related to Local Government
7-8-105. Authorization to dispose of certain property in possession of local law enforcement

7-8-105. Authorization to dispose of certain property in possession of local law enforcement. (1) The legislative body of a local government may, by ordinance or resolution, provide for the care, restitution, sale, donation, return, or destruction of unclaimed tangible personal property that may come into the possession of a peace officer or a law enforcement entity of the local government for which state law does not otherwise provide a procedure for disposition.

(2) At a minimum, the ordinance or resolution must provide:

(a) that unclaimed property valued at $20 or more must be held by the local government for a period of at least 3 months;

(b) a process by which the local government shall attempt to notify the legal owner of unclaimed property held in its possession;

(c) a process by which the local government may allow a finder of unclaimed personal property to take possession of that property if it remains unclaimed;

(d) that unclaimed property will be destroyed as allowed or required by local, state, or federal law, returned to the finder, donated, or otherwise sold at public auction to the highest bidder;

(e) that, at least 10 days prior to the time fixed for the destruction, return, donation, or sale at public auction of unclaimed property, notice of the planned disposal must be given by publication one time in a newspaper of general circulation; and

(f) that, upon proof of legal ownership, the local government shall restore the unclaimed property to its legal owner.

(3) After property has been destroyed, returned, donated, or sold at public auction, the property or the value of the property is not redeemable by the owner or another person entitled to possession.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 295, L. 2017.