Amended in Senate April 23, 2014

Senate Bill No. 1193

Introduced by Senator Evans

February 20, 2014

An act to amend begin delete Section end delete begin insert Sections 11473.5 and end insert 11479 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to controlled substances.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1193, as amended, Evans. Controlled substances: destruction of seized begin delete substances. end delete begin insert marijuana: cause of action. end insert

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Existing

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begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Existing end insert law, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, includes provisions authorizing the forfeiture and seizure of property involved in, or purchased with the proceeds from, a controlled substance offense. Existing law authorizes the destruction of seized substances suspected to be controlled substances in excess of 10 pounds in gross weight, subject to specified requirements.

Existing law requires that, prior to destruction of a suspected controlled substance, the law enforcement agency take at least 5 random and representative samples, for evidentiary purposes, from the total amount of suspected controlled substances to be destroyed in addition to the 10 pounds the law enforcement agency is required to retain.

Existing law requires, when the suspected controlled substance consists of growing or harvested marijuana plants, at least one 10-pound sample (which may include stalks, branches, or leaves) and 5 representative samples consisting of leaves or buds to be retained for evidentiary purposes from the total amount of suspected controlled substances to be destroyed by the law enforcement agency.

This bill would instead require that, prior to the destruction of begin delete a suspected controlled substance, including end delete growing or harvested marijuana plants, the law enforcement agency take at least begin delete 10 end delete begin insert one 2-pound sample and 5 end insert random and representative samples, and would authorize the agency to destroy the begin delete remainder of the substance in excess of those 10 samples end delete begin insert remainder end insert . begin insert The bill would require that counsel for the defendant have an opportunity to examine the evidence for 30 days from the date the growing or harvested marijuana was seized before destruction if there are criminal proceedings pending which pertain to the seized marijuana to be destroyed. By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement entities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. end insert

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(2) Existing law requires all seizures of controlled substances, instruments, or paraphernalia used for unlawfully using or administering a controlled substance that are in the possession of a city, county, or state official as a result of a case in which no trial was had or which has been disposed of by way of dismissal or otherwise than by way of conviction be destroyed by order of the court unless the court finds that the controlled substances, instruments, or paraphernalia were lawfully possessed by the defendant.

end insert begin insert

This bill would require that any marijuana, instrument, or paraphernalia seized that was lawfully possessed by a defendant be returned to the defendant if the case is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted based on a defense or protection provided in the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 or the Medical Marijuana Program, as provided. If the marijuana, instrument, or paraphernalia was damaged or destroyed, the bill would entitle the defendant to receive reasonable compensation for the damage or loss.

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(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

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This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert .

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 11473.5 of the end insert begin insert Health and Safety Code end insert
begin insert is amended to read: end insert

11473.5.  

(a)  All seizures of controlled substances, instruments,
or paraphernalia used for unlawfully using or administering a
controlled substance begin delete which end delete begin insert that end insert are in possession of begin delete any end delete begin insert a end insert city,
county, or state official as found property, or as the result of a case
in which no trial was had or which has been disposed of by way
of dismissal or otherwise than by way of conviction, shall be
destroyed by order of the court, unless the court finds that the
controlled substances, instruments, or paraphernalia were lawfully
possessed by the defendant.

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(b) In a criminal prosecution in which the defendant was
acquitted or the case dismissed based on a defense or protection
provided under Section 11362.5 or Article 2.5 (commencing with
Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6, the following shall apply:

end insert begin insert

(1) Any marijuana, instrument, or paraphernalia seized in the
case that was lawfully possessed by the defendant shall be returned
to him or her.

end insert begin insert

(2) If any marijuana, instrument, or paraphernalia was damaged
or destroyed, the defendant shall receive reasonable compensation
for the damage or loss.

end insert begin delete

(b)

end delete begin insert

(3) A claim pursuant to this subdivision shall be presented not
later than six months after acquittal or dismissal in the case.

end insert

begin insert (c) end insert  If the court finds that the property was not lawfully possessed
by the defendant, law enforcement may request of the court that
certain uncontaminated instruments or paraphernalia be
relinquished to a school or school district for science classroom
education in lieu of destruction.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 11479 of the end insert begin insert Health and Safety Code end insert begin insert is
amended to read: end insert

11479.  

Notwithstanding begin delete Sections end delete begin insert Section end insert 11473 and
begin insert subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section end insert 11473.5, at any time after
seizure by a law enforcement agency of a suspected controlled
substance, that amount in excess of 10 pounds in gross weight begin insert ,
and in the case of growing or harvested marijuana, only that
amount in excess of two pounds, end insert may be destroyed without a court
order by the chief of the law enforcement agency or a designated
subordinate. Destruction shall not take place pursuant to this section
until all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(a) At least five random and representative samples have been
taken, for evidentiary purposes, from the total amount of suspected
controlled substances to be destroyed. These samples shall be in
addition to the 10 pounds required above. When the suspected
controlled substance consists of growing or harvested marijuana
plants, at least one begin delete 10 end delete begin insert two end insert pound sample (which may include stalks,
branches, or leaves) and five representative samples consisting of
leaves or buds shall be retained for evidentiary purposes from the
total amount of suspected controlled substances to be destroyed
begin insert and counsel for the defendant shall have 30 days from the date the
growing or harvested marijuana was seized to examine the
evidence before destruction if there are criminal proceedings
pending which pertain to the seized growing or harvested
marijuana to be destroyed end insert .

(b) Photographs have been taken which reasonably demonstrate
the total amount of the suspected controlled substance to be
destroyed.

(c) The gross weight of the suspected controlled substance has
been determined, either by actually weighing the suspected
controlled substance or by estimating that weight after dimensional
measurement of the total suspected controlled substance.

(d) The chief of the law enforcement agency has determined
that it is not reasonably possible to preserve the suspected
controlled substance in place, or to remove the suspected controlled
substance to another location. In making this determination, the
difficulty of transporting and storing the suspected controlled
substance to another site and the storage facilities may be taken
into consideration.

Subsequent to any destruction of a suspected controlled substance
pursuant to this section, an affidavit shall be filed within 30 days
in the court which has jurisdiction over any pending criminal
proceedings pertaining to that suspected controlled substance,
reciting the applicable information required by subdivisions (a),
(b), (c), and (d) together with information establishing the location
of the suspected controlled substance, and specifying the date and
time of the destruction. In the event that there are no criminal
proceedings pending which pertain to that suspected controlled
substance, the affidavit may be filed in any court within the county
which would have jurisdiction over a person against whom those
criminal charges might be filed.

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begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

end insert begin insert

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 11479 of the Health and Safety Code is
amended to read:

11479.  

Notwithstanding Sections 11473 and 11473.5, at any
time after seizure by a law enforcement agency of a suspected
controlled substance, that amount in excess of the 10 random and
representative samples described in subdivision (a) may be
destroyed without a court order by the chief of the law enforcement
agency or a designated subordinate. Destruction shall not take
place pursuant to this section until all of the following requirements
are satisfied:

(a)  At least 10 random and representative samples have been
taken, for evidentiary purposes, from the total amount of suspected
controlled substances to be destroyed.

(b)  Photographs have been taken which reasonably demonstrate
the total amount of the suspected controlled substance to be
destroyed.

(c)  The gross weight of the suspected controlled substance has
been determined, either by actually weighing the suspected
controlled substance or by estimating that weight after dimensional
measurement of the total suspected controlled substance.

(d)  The chief of the law enforcement agency has determined
that it is not reasonably possible to preserve the suspected
controlled substance in place, or to remove the suspected controlled
substance to another location. In making this determination, the
difficulty of transporting and storing the suspected controlled
substance to another site and the storage facilities may be taken
into consideration.

Subsequent to any destruction of a suspected controlled substance
pursuant to this section, an affidavit shall be filed within 30 days
in the court which has jurisdiction over any pending criminal
proceedings pertaining to that suspected controlled substance,
reciting the applicable information required by subdivisions (a),
(b), (c), and (d) together with information establishing the location
of the suspected controlled substance, and specifying the date and
time of the destruction. In the event that there are no criminal
proceedings pending which pertain to that suspected controlled
substance, the affidavit may be filed in any court within the county
which would have jurisdiction over a person against whom those
criminal charges might be filed.

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