26-57-247
Seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of tobacco products and other property.
(a) Cigarettes to which stamps have not been affixed as provided by
law are subject to seizure and shall be held as evidence for prosecution.
(b) The Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control may seize and hold for
disposition of the courts or the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board all tobacco
products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or e-liquid products
found in the possession of a person dealing in, or a consumer of, tobacco
products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or e-liquid products if:
(1) Prima facie evidence exists that the full amount of excise tax
due on the tobacco products has not been paid to the Director of the Department
of Finance and Administration;
(2) Tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products,
or e-liquid products are in the possession of a wholesaler who does not
possess a current Arkansas wholesale cigarette or tobacco product, vapor
product, and alternative nicotine product permit;
(3) A retail establishment does not possess a current Arkansas retail
cigarette, tobacco, vapor product, and alternative nicotine product permit
or retail exclusive vapor product and alternative nicotine product store
permit; or
(4) The tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products,
or e-liquid products have been offered for sale to the public at another
location without a current Arkansas retail cigarette, tobacco, vapor product,
and alternative nicotine product permit or retail exclusive vapor product
and alternative nicotine product store permit.
(c) Property, including money, used to facilitate a criminal violation
of this subchapter or the Unfair Cigarette Sales Act, § 4-75-701
et seq. , may be seized and forfeited to the state.
(d)(1) A prosecuting attorney may institute a civil action against
a person who is convicted of a criminal violation under this subchapter
or the Unfair Cigarette Sales Act, § 4-75-701 et seq. , to obtain
a judgment for:
(A) Damages in an amount equal to the value of the property, funds,
or a monetary instrument involved in the violation;
(B) The proceeds acquired by a person involved in the enterprise or
by reason of conduct in furtherance of the violation; and
(C) Costs incurred by the board in the investigation and prosecution
of both criminal and civil proceedings.
(2) The standard of proof in an action brought under subdivision (d)(1)
of this section is preponderance of the evidence.
(e) The following are subject to forfeiture under this section upon
order by a circuit court:
(1) Tobacco products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products,
or e-liquid products distributed, dispensed, or acquired in violation
of this subchapter;
(2) Raw materials, products, or equipment used or intended for use
in manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivering, importing, or exporting
a tobacco product, vapor product, alternative nicotine product, or e-liquid
product in violation of this subchapter;
(3) Property that is used or intended for use as a container for property
described in subdivision (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section;
(4)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(4)(B) of this section,
a conveyance, including an aircraft, vehicle, or vessel, that is used
or intended to be used to transport or in any manner to facilitate the
transportation for the purpose of sale or receipt of property described
in subdivision (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section.
(B)(i) A conveyance used by a person as a common carrier in the transaction
of business as a common carrier is not subject to forfeiture under this
section unless it appears that the owner or other person in charge of
the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of this subchapter.
(ii) A conveyance is not subject to forfeiture under this section
by reason of an act or omission established by the owner of the conveyance
to have been committed or omitted without his or her knowledge or consent.
(C) Upon a showing described in subdivision (e)(4)(B)(i) of this section
by the owner or interest holder of a conveyance, the conveyance may nevertheless
be forfeited if the prosecuting attorney establishes that the owner or
interest holder either knew or should reasonably have known that the conveyance
would be used to transport or in any manner to facilitate the transportation
for the purpose of sale or receipt of property described in subdivision
(e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section.
(D) A conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject
to the interest of the secured party if the secured party neither had
knowledge of nor consented to an act or omission in violation of this
subchapter;
(5) A book, record, or research product or material, including a formula,
microfilm, tape, or data that is used or intended for use in violation
of this subchapter;
(6)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(6)(B) of this section,
a thing of value, including:
(i) Firearms purchased from the proceeds of the sale of untaxed tobacco
products, vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or e-liquid products
in violation of this subchapter or used in furtherance of a criminal offense
as described in § 26-57-245 ;
(ii) Proceeds or profits traceable to an exchange described in subdivision
(e)(6)(A)(i) of this section; and
(iii) Money, negotiable instruments, or security used or intended
to be used to facilitate a violation of this subchapter.
(B) Property shall not be forfeited under subdivision (e)(6)(A) of
this section to the extent of the interest of an owner by reason of an
act or omission established by him or her by a preponderance of the evidence
to have been committed or omitted without his or her knowledge or consent;
(7)(A) Money, coins, or currency found in close proximity to a forfeitable
tobacco product, vapor product, alternative nicotine product, or e-liquid
product or a forfeitable record of an importation of a tobacco product,
vapor product, alternative nicotine product, or e-liquid product is presumed
to be forfeitable under this section.
(B) The burden of proof is upon a claimant of the money, coins, or
currency to rebut the presumption in subdivision (e)(7)(A) of this section
by a preponderance of the evidence; and
(8)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(8)(B) of this section,
real property if it substantially assisted in, facilitated in any manner,
or was used or intended for use in the commission of any act prohibited
by this subchapter.
(B)(i) Real property is not subject to forfeiture under this section
by reason of an act or omission established by the owner of the real property
by a preponderance of the evidence to have been committed or omitted without
his or her knowledge or consent.
(ii) A forfeiture of real property encumbered by a mortgage or other
lien is subject to the interest of the secured party if the secured party
neither had knowledge of nor consented to an act or omission in violation
of this subchapter.
(iii) If the circuit court finds by a preponderance of the evidence
that grounds for a forfeiture exist under this section, the court shall
enter an order requiring the forfeiture of the real property.
(C) Upon an order of forfeiture of real property, the order shall
be filed on the day issued and shall have prospective effect.
(D) A forfeiture of real property does not affect the title of a bona
fide purchaser who purchased the real property before the issuance of
the order, and the order has no force or effect on the title of the bona
fide purchaser.
(E) A lis pendens filed in connection with an action pending under
this section that may result in the forfeiture of real property is effective
only from the time filed and has no retroactive effect.
(f) A tobacco product, vapor product, alternative nicotine product,
or e-liquid product that is possessed, transferred, sold, or offered for
sale in violation of this subchapter may be seized and immediately forfeited
to the state.
(g)(1) Property subject to forfeiture under this subchapter may be
seized by a law enforcement agent upon process issued by a circuit court
having jurisdiction over the property on petition filed by the prosecuting
attorney of the judicial circuit.
(2) Seizure without process may be made if:
(A) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search
warrant or an inspection under the regulatory authority of Arkansas Tobacco Control;
(B) The property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior
judgment in favor of the state in a criminal injunction or forfeiture
proceeding based upon this subchapter;
(C) The seizing law enforcement agency has probable cause to believe
that the property is directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety;
or
(D) The seizing law enforcement agency has probable cause to believe
that the property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this
subchapter.
(h)(1) A state or local law enforcement agency shall not transfer
property seized by the state or local agency under this section to a federal
entity for forfeiture under federal law unless the circuit court having
jurisdiction over the property enters an order, upon petition by the prosecuting
attorney, authorizing the property to be transferred to the federal entity.
(2) The transfer shall not be approved unless it reasonably appears
that the activity giving rise to the investigation or seizure involves
more than one (1) state or the nature of the investigation or seizure
would be better pursued under federal law.
(i)(1) Property seized for forfeiture under this section is not subject
to replevin but is deemed to be in the custody of the seizing law enforcement
agency subject only to an order or decree of the circuit court having
jurisdiction over the property seized.
(2) Subject to a need to retain the property as evidence, when property
is seized under this subchapter, the seizing law enforcement agency may:
(A) Remove the property to a place designated by the circuit court;
(B) Place the property under constructive seizure, posting notice
of pending forfeiture on it by:
(i) Giving notice of pending forfeiture to its owners and interest
holders; or
(ii) Filing notice of pending forfeiture in an appropriate public
record relating to the property;
(C) Remove the property to a storage area for safekeeping or, if the
property is a negotiable instrument or money or is not needed for evidentiary
purposes, deposit it into an interest-bearing account; or
(D) Provide for another agency or custodian, including an owner, secured
party, mortgagee, or lienholder, to take custody of the property and service,
maintain, and operate it as reasonably necessary to maintain its value
in an appropriate location within the jurisdiction of the court.
(3)(A) In case of transfer of property, a transfer receipt shall be
prepared by the transferring agency.
(B) The transfer receipt shall:
(i) List a detailed and complete description of the property being
transferred;
(ii) State to whom the property is being transferred and the source
or authorization for the transfer; and
(iii) Be signed by both the transferor and the transferee.
(C) Both transferor and transferee shall maintain a copy of the transfer receipt.
(4) A person who acts as custodian of property under this section
is not liable to any person on account of an act done in a reasonable
manner in compliance with an order under this subchapter.
(j)(1) Property seized by a state or local law enforcement officer
under this section who is detached to, deputized or commissioned by, or
working in conjunction with a federal agency remains subject to this section.
(2)(A) If property is seized for forfeiture by a law enforcement agency
under this section, the seizing law enforcement officer shall prepare
and sign a confiscation report.
(B)(i) The party from whom the property is seized shall also sign
the confiscation report if present and shall immediately receive a copy
of the confiscation report.
(ii) If the party refuses to sign the confiscation report, the confiscation
report shall be signed by one (1) additional law enforcement officer,
stating that the party refused to sign the confiscation report.
(C) The original confiscation report shall be:
(i) Filed with the seizing law enforcement agency within forty-eight
(48) hours after the seizure; and
(ii) Maintained in a separate file.
(D) One (1) copy of the confiscation report shall be retained by the
seizing law enforcement officer.
(3) The confiscation report shall contain the following information:
(A) A detailed description of the property seized including serial
or model numbers and odometer or hour reading of vehicles or equipment;
(B) The date of seizure;
(C) The name and address of the party from whom the property was seized;
(D) The reason for the seizure;
(E) The location where the property will be held;
(F) The seizing law enforcement officer's name; and
(G) A signed statement by the seizing law enforcement officer stating
that the confiscation report is true and complete.
(4) Within three (3) business days after receiving the confiscation
report, the seizing law enforcement agency shall forward a copy of the
confiscation report to the prosecuting attorney for the district where
the property was seized and to the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control.
(5)(A) Arkansas Legislative Audit shall notify the Director of Arkansas
Tobacco Control and a circuit court in the county of a law enforcement
agency, prosecuting attorney, or other public entity that the law enforcement
agency, prosecuting attorney, or public entity is ineligible to receive
forfeited funds, forfeited property, or grants from the council, if Arkansas
Legislative Audit determines by its own investigation or upon written
notice from the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control that:
(i) The law enforcement agency failed to complete and file the confiscation
reports as required by this section;
(ii) The law enforcement agency, prosecuting attorney, or public entity
has not properly accounted for the seized property; or
(iii) The prosecuting attorney has failed to comply with the notification
requirement set forth in subdivision (m)(2) of this section.
(B) After the notice, the circuit court shall not issue an order distributing
seized property to that law enforcement agency, prosecuting attorney,
or public entity, nor shall a grant be awarded by the council to that
law enforcement agency, prosecuting attorney, or public entity until:
(i) The appropriate officials of the law enforcement agency, prosecuting
attorney, or public entity have appeared before the Legislative Joint
Auditing Committee; and
(ii) The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee has adopted a motion
authorizing subsequent transfers of forfeited property to the law enforcement
agency, prosecuting attorney, or public entity.
(C)(i) If a law enforcement agency, prosecuting attorney, or other
public entity is ineligible to receive forfeited property, the circuit
court shall order money that would have been distributed to that law enforcement
agency, prosecuting attorney, or public entity to be transmitted to the
Treasurer of State for deposit into the Special State Assets Forfeiture Fund.
(ii) If the property is not cash, the circuit court shall order the
property converted to cash under this section and the proceeds transmitted
to the Treasurer of State for deposit into the Special State Assets Forfeiture Fund.
(D) Moneys deposited into the Special State Assets Forfeiture Fund
are not subject to recovery or retrieval by an ineligible law enforcement
agency, prosecuting attorney, or other public entity.
(6) The Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control shall establish by rule
a standardized confiscation report form to be used by all law enforcement
agencies, with specific instructions and guidelines concerning the nature
and dollar value of all property, including firearms, to be included in
the confiscation report and forwarded to the office of the local prosecuting
attorney and the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control under this subsection.
(k)(1)(A) The prosecuting attorney shall initiate forfeiture proceedings
by filing a complaint with the circuit clerk of the county where the property
was seized and by serving the complaint on all known owners and interest
holders of the seized property in accordance with the Arkansas Rules of
Civil Procedure.
(B) The complaint may be based on in rem or in personam jurisdiction
but shall not be filed to avoid the distribution requirements set forth
in subdivision (l)(1) of this section.
(C) The prosecuting attorney shall mail a copy of the complaint to
the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control within five (5) calendar days
after filing the complaint.
(2)(A) The complaint shall include a copy of the confiscation report
and shall be filed within sixty (60) days after receiving a copy of the
confiscation report from the seizing law enforcement agency.
(B) In a case involving real property, the complaint shall be filed
within sixty (60) days of the defendant's conviction on the charge giving
rise to the forfeiture.
(3)(A) The prosecuting attorney may file the complaint after the expiration
of the time only if the complaint is accompanied by a statement of good
cause for the late filing.
(B) However, the complaint shall not be filed more than one hundred
twenty (120) days after either the date of the seizure or, in a case involving
real property, the date of the defendant's conviction.
(C)(i) If the circuit court determines that good cause has not been
established, the circuit court shall order that the seized property be
returned to the owner or interest holder.
(ii) In addition, items seized but not subject to forfeiture under
this section or subject to disposition under law or the Arkansas Rules
of Criminal Procedure may be ordered returned to the owner or interest holder.
(iii) If the owner or interest holder cannot be determined, the court
may order disposition of the property.
(4) Within the time set forth in the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure,
the owner or interest holder of the seized property shall file with the
circuit clerk a verified answer to the complaint that shall include:
(A) A statement describing the seized property and the owner's interest
or interest holder's interest in the seized property with supporting documents
to establish the owner's interest or interest holder's interest;
(B) A certification by the owner or interest holder stating that he
or she has read the document and that it has not been filed for an improper purpose;
(C) A statement setting forth any defense to forfeiture; and
(D) The address at which the owner or interest holder will accept mail.
(5)(A) If the owner or interest holder fails to file an answer, the
prosecuting attorney may move for default judgment under the Arkansas
Rules of Civil Procedure.
(B)(i) If a timely answer has been filed, the prosecuting attorney
has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the
seized property should be forfeited.
(ii) After the prosecuting attorney has presented proof, an owner
or interest holder of the property seized is allowed to present evidence
showing why the seized property should not be forfeited.
(iii) If the circuit court determines that grounds for forfeiting
the seized property exist and that a defense to forfeiture has not been
established by the owner or interest holder, the circuit court shall enter
an order under this section. However, if the circuit court determines
either that the prosecuting attorney has failed to establish that grounds
for forfeiting the seized property exist or that the owner or interest
holder has established a defense to forfeiture, the court shall order
that the seized property be immediately returned to the owner or interest holder.
(l)(1) If the circuit court having jurisdiction over the seized property
finds upon a hearing by a preponderance of the evidence that grounds for
a forfeiture exist under this subchapter, the circuit court shall enter an order:
(A) To permit the law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to
retain the seized property for law enforcement or prosecutorial purposes,
subject to the following provisions:
(i)(a) Seized property may not be retained for official use for more
than three (3) years, unless the circuit court finds that the seized property
has been used for law enforcement or prosecutorial purposes and authorizes
continued use for those purposes on an annual basis.
(b) At the end of the retention period, the seized property shall
be sold and eighty percent (80%) of the proceeds shall be deposited into
the tobacco control fund of the retaining law enforcement agency or prosecuting
attorney, and twenty percent (20%) of the proceeds shall be deposited
into the State Treasury as special revenues to be credited to the Special
State Assets Forfeiture Fund.
(c) The retaining law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney may
sell the retained seized property during the time allowed for retention.
However, the proceeds of the sale shall be distributed as set forth
in subdivision (l)(1)(A)(i)(b) of this section;
(ii) If the circuit court determines that retained seized property
has been used for personal use or by non-law enforcement personnel for
non-law enforcement purposes, the circuit court shall order the seized
property to be sold under § 5-5-101(e) and (f) , and the proceeds
shall be deposited into the State Treasury as special revenues to be credited
to the Special State Assets Forfeiture Fund;
(iii)(a) A law enforcement agency may use forfeited property or money
if the circuit court's order specifies that the forfeited property or
money is forfeited to the prosecuting attorney, sheriff, chief of police,
Department of Arkansas State Police, Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control,
or Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
(b) After the order, the prosecuting attorney, sheriff, chief of police,
Department of Arkansas State Police, Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control,
or Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation
shall maintain an inventory of the forfeited property or money, be accountable
for the forfeited property or money, and be subject to subdivision (j)(5)
of this section with respect to the forfeited property or money;
(iv)(a) An aircraft is forfeited to the office of the Director of
Arkansas Tobacco Control and may be used only for tobacco, vapor product,
alternative nicotine product, or e-liquid product smuggling interdiction
efforts within the discretion of the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control.
(b) However, if the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control determines
that the aircraft should be sold, the proceeds of the sale shall be distributed
as set forth in subdivision (l)(1)(A)(i)(b) of this section;
(v) A firearm not retained for official use shall be disposed of in
accordance with state and federal law; and
(vi) A tobacco product, vapor product, alternative nicotine product,
or e-liquid product shall be destroyed pursuant to a court order;
(B)(i) To sell seized property that is not required by law to be destroyed
and that is not harmful to the public.
(ii) Seized property described in subdivision (l)(1)(B)(i) of this
section shall be sold at a public sale by the retaining law enforcement
agency or prosecuting attorney under § 5-5-101(e) and (f) ;
or
(C) To transfer a motor vehicle to a school district for use in a
driver education course.
(2) Disposition of forfeited property under this subsection is subject
to the need to retain the forfeited property as evidence in any related
proceeding.
(3) Within three (3) business days after the entry of the order, the
circuit clerk shall forward to the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control
copies of the confiscation report, the circuit court's order, and other
documentation detailing the disposition of the seized property.
(m)(1)(A) Subject to subdivision (j)(5) of this section, the proceeds
of sales conducted under this section and moneys forfeited or obtained
by judgment or settlement under this subchapter shall be deposited and
distributed in the manner provided in this subsection.
(B) Moneys received from a federal forfeiture for a violation of this
subchapter shall be deposited and distributed under this section.
(2)(A) The proceeds of a sale and moneys forfeited or obtained by
judgment or settlement under this subchapter shall be deposited into the
asset forfeiture fund of the prosecuting attorney and is subject to the
following provisions:
(i) If, during a calendar year, the aggregate amount of moneys deposited
into the asset forfeiture fund exceeds twenty thousand dollars ($20,000)
per county, the prosecuting attorney, within fourteen (14) days after
that time, shall notify the circuit judges in the judicial district and
the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control;
(ii) Subsequent to the notification set forth in this section, twenty
percent (20%) of the proceeds of an additional sale and additional moneys
forfeited or obtained by judgment or settlement under this subchapter
in the same calendar year shall be deposited into the State Treasury as
special revenues to be credited to the Special State Assets Forfeiture
Fund, and the remainder shall be deposited into the asset forfeiture fund
of the prosecuting attorney;
(iii) Failure by the prosecuting attorney to comply with the notification
requirement set forth in this section renders the prosecuting attorney
and an entity eligible to receive forfeited moneys or property from the
prosecuting attorney ineligible to receive forfeited moneys or property,
except as provided in this section; and
(iv) Twenty percent (20%) of moneys in excess of twenty thousand dollars
($20,000) that have been retained but not reported as required by this
section are subject to recovery for deposit into the Special State Assets
Forfeiture Fund.
(B) The prosecuting attorney shall administer expenditures from the
asset forfeiture fund, which is subject to audit by Arkansas Legislative
Audit. Moneys distributed from the asset forfeiture fund shall be
used only for law enforcement and prosecutorial purposes. Moneys
in the asset forfeiture fund shall be distributed in the following order:
(i) For the satisfaction of a bona fide security interest or lien;
(ii) For payment of a proper expense of the proceeding for forfeiture
and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising,
and court costs;
(iii) Any balance under three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000)
shall be distributed proportionally so as to reflect generally the contribution
of the appropriate local or state law enforcement or prosecutorial agency's
participation in any activity that led to the seizure or forfeiture of
the property or deposit of moneys under this subchapter; and
(iv) Any balance over three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000)
shall be forwarded to the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control to be transferred
to the State Treasury for deposit into the Special State Assets Forfeiture
Fund for distribution under this section.
(C)(i) For a forfeiture in an amount greater than three hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($350,000) from which expenses are paid for a proceeding
for forfeiture and sale under this section, an itemized accounting of
the expenses shall be delivered to the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control
within ten (10) calendar days after the distribution of the funds.
(ii) The itemized accounting shall include the expenses paid, to whom
paid, and for what purposes the expenses were paid.
(3)(A) Moneys received by a prosecuting attorney or law enforcement
agency from a federal forfeiture for a violation of this subchapter shall
be deposited and maintained in a separate account.
(B) However, a balance over three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000)
shall be distributed as required under this section.
(4) Other moneys shall not be maintained in the account except for
interest income generated by the account.
(5) Moneys in the account shall only be used for law enforcement and
prosecutorial purposes consistent with governing federal law.
(6) The account is subject to audit by Arkansas Legislative Audit.
(7) A balance over three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000)
shall be transferred to the State Treasury for deposit into the Special
State Assets Forfeiture Fund in which it shall be maintained separately
and distributed consistently with governing federal law and upon the advice
of the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control.
(n) In personam jurisdiction may be based on a person's presence in
the state or on his or her conduct in the state, as set out in § 16-4-101(C)
, and is subject to the following additional provisions:
(1) A temporary restraining order under this section may be entered
ex parte on application of the state upon a showing that:
(A) There is probable cause to believe that the property with respect
to which the order is sought is subject to forfeiture under this section;
and
(B) Notice of the action would jeopardize the availability of the
property for forfeiture;
(2)(A) Notice of the entry of a temporary restraining order and an
opportunity for hearing shall be afforded to a person known to have an
interest in the property.
(B) The hearing shall be held at the earliest possible date consistent
with Rule 65 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure and is limited to
the issues of whether:
(i) There is a probability that the state will prevail on the issue
of forfeiture and that failure to enter the temporary restraining order
will result in the property's being destroyed, conveyed, alienated, encumbered,
disposed of, received, removed from the jurisdiction of the circuit court,
concealed, or otherwise made unavailable for forfeiture; and
(ii) The need to preserve the availability of property through the
entry of the requested temporary restraining order outweighs the hardship
on an owner or interest holder against whom the temporary restraining
order is to be entered;
(3) The state has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence
to show that the defendant's property is subject to forfeiture;
(4)(A) On a determination of liability of a person for conduct giving
rise to forfeiture under this section, the circuit court shall enter a
judgment of forfeiture of the property subject to forfeiture as alleged
in the complaint and may authorize the prosecuting attorney or a law enforcement
officer to seize property subject to forfeiture under this section not
previously seized or not then under seizure.
(B) The order of forfeiture shall be consistent with subsection (l)
of this section.
(C) In connection with the judgment, on application of the state,
the circuit court may enter an appropriate order to protect the interest
of the state in property ordered forfeited; and
(5) Subsequent to the finding of liability and order of forfeiture,
the following procedures apply:
(A) The attorney for the state shall give notice of pending forfeiture
in the manner provided in Rule 4 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure
to an owner or interest holder who has not previously been given notice;
(B) An owner of or interest holder in property that has been ordered
forfeited and whose claim is not precluded may file a claim within thirty
(30) days after initial notice of pending forfeiture or after notice under
Rule 4 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure , whichever is earlier;
and
(C) The circuit court may amend the in personam order of forfeiture
if the circuit court determines that a claimant has established that he
or she has an interest in the property and that the interest is exempt
under this section.
(o) The circuit court shall order the forfeiture of other property
of a claimant or defendant up to the value of the claimant's or defendant's
property found by the circuit court to be subject to forfeiture under
this section if any of the forfeitable property had remained under the
control or custody of the claimant or defendant and:
(1) Cannot be located;
(2) Was transferred or conveyed to, sold to, or deposited with a third party;
(3) Is beyond the jurisdiction of the circuit court;
(4) Was substantially diminished in value while not in the actual
physical custody of the seizing law enforcement agency;
(5) Was commingled with other property that cannot be divided without
difficulty; or
(6) Is subject to interest exempted from forfeiture under this subchapter.
(p)(1) There is created on the books of law enforcement agencies and
prosecuting attorneys a tobacco control fund.
(2) The fund shall consist of moneys obtained under this section and
other revenue as may be provided by law or ordinance.
(3) Moneys in the tobacco control fund shall be appropriated on a
continuing basis and are not subject to the Revenue Stabilization Law,
§ 19-5-101 et seq.
(4)(A) The fund shall be used for law enforcement and prosecutorial purposes.
(B) Each prosecuting attorney shall submit to the Director of Arkansas
Tobacco Control on or before June 30 of each year a report detailing moneys
received and expenditures made from the tobacco control fund during the
preceding twelve-month period.
(5) The law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys shall submit
to the Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control on or before June 30 of each
year a report detailing any moneys received and expenditures made from
the tobacco control fund during the preceding twelve-month period.
(6) Moneys from the tobacco control fund may not supplant other local,
state, or federal funds.
(7) The tobacco control fund is subject to audit by Arkansas Legislative Audit.