Bill 782

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               782
Ratification Number:       314
Act Number                 291
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to sale of unclaimed recovered
                           stolen property and of abandoned
                           property

(A291, R314, S782)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-21-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SHERIFF'S SALES OF UNCLAIMED RECOVERED STOLEN PROPERTY AND OF ABANDONED PROPERTY, SO AS TO ALLOW THE SALES TO BE CONDUCTED AT CERTAIN PLACES OTHER THAN ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Sheriff may sell stolen property

Section 1. Section 27-21-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 27-21-20. The sheriff of any county may sell at public auction any recovered stolen property, and any property which has been abandoned within the county, when the true owner cannot be ascertained after reasonable effort. The sheriff shall make a diligent effort to ascertain the true owner of such property and at least twice prior to sale shall advertise the property with its full description in a newspaper having general circulation in the county. At any time after sixty days shall have elapsed after publication of the first advertisement, the sheriff may sell the abandoned or stolen property at public auction on the courthouse steps, or at such other public location within the county as the property is located or can be exhibited safely, provided that the other location is properly specified in the notice of sale. The sheriff shall turn over all proceeds of the sale, less necessary expenses of the sale, to the county treasurer who shall place such sums in a special fund."

Time effective

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.