Ch. 215                                    2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Approved May 13, 2003.

CHAPTER 215
(Senate Bill 131)

AN ACT concerning

Sheriffs - Disposal of Property - Holding Period

FOR the purpose of altering the period of time that certain guidelines shall provide
that require a sheriff to hold abandoned, lawfully confiscated, or recovered
property before the sheriff may give notice for the sale of the property,
prescribed under certain guidelines, that certain property is required to be in the
possession of the sheriff before the sheriff is required to give certain notice of the
sale of the property to certain persons and certain lienholders; and generally
relating to the disposal of property by a sheriff.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Section 2-311

Annotated Code of Maryland
(2002 Replacement Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

2-311.

(a)     The sheriff of a county may establish and administer reasonable guidelines
in accordance with this section for disposing of abandoned, lawfully confiscated, or
recovered property that is in the possession of the sheriff's office.

(b)     The guidelines shall provide that:

(1) (I) After LAWFULLY CONFISCATED property has been in the
possession of the sheriff for a period of [one year] 90 DAYS, notice of the sale of the
property shall be given by registered or certified mail to those persons entitled to its
possession and to those lienholders whose names and addresses can be ascertained by
the exercise of reasonable diligence; AND

(II) AFTER ABANDONED OR RECOVERED PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN
THE POSSESSION OF THE SHERIFF FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS, NOTICE OF THE SALE
OF THE PROPERTY SHALL BE GIVEN BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL TO THOSE
PERSONS ENTITLED TO ITS POSSESSION AND TO THOSE LIENHOLDERS WHOSE
NAMES AND ADDRESSES CAN BE ASCERTAINED BY THE EXERCISE OF REASONABLE
DILIGENCE;

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