Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act

Summary: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to exclude from the customs and tax exemption under tort claims procedures a claim based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods or merchandise (including real property) while in the possession of a customs or other law enforcement officer. 
Extends the period for filing claims in certain in rem proceedings. 
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that:  (1) in all suits or actions brought for the forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of any law relating to the collection of duties on imports or tonnage, with exceptions, and for the recovery of the value of any forfeited property because of violation of any such law, the burden of proof is on the Government to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the property was subject to forfeiture; (2) any person claiming such property may at any time within 60 days from the date of the first publication of the notice of seizure file a claim with the appropriate customs officer, who shall transmit such claim to the U.S. attorney for the district in which seizure was made; and (3) if the person filing such claim (or a claim regarding seized property under any other provision of law that incorporates by reference the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation procedures of the customs laws) is financially unable to obtain representation, the court may appoint counsel, subject to specified requirements. 
Specifies that a claimant is entitled to immediate release of seized property if continued possession by the Government would cause the claimant substantial hardship.  Sets forth procedures regarding the request for release, return of property, and time for decision by the court on a complaint for such return. 
Makes sums in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund available for the payment of court-awarded compensation for representation of claimants under the Tariff Act, with respect to seizure claims by individuals financially unable to obtain representation of counsel.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION OF CUSTOMS AND TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THE TORT CLAIMS 
              PROCEDURES.

    Section 2680(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``law-enforcement officer'' and inserting ``law enforcement 
officer, except that this chapter and section 1346(b) shall apply to a 
claim based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods or 
merchandise (including real property) while in the possession of an 
officer of customs or excise or any other law enforcement officer''.

SEC. 3. LONGER PERIOD FOR FILING CLAIMS IN CERTAIN IN REM PROCEEDINGS.

    Rule C(6) of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and 
Maritime Claims to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures (28 U.S.C. 
App.) is amended by striking ``10 days'' and inserting ``60 days''.

SEC. 4. CLAIM AFTER SEIZURE.

    Section 608 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1608) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 608. SEIZURE; CLAIMS; REPRESENTATION.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Filing of claim.--At any time within 60 days after 
        the date on which a notice of seizure is first published, a 
        person who claims a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or 
        baggage seized under a law described in section 605 may file 
        with the appropriate customs officer a claim stating the 
        person's interest in the property.
            ``(2) Condemnation.--On filing of a claim under paragraph 
        (1), the customs officer shall transmit the claim, with a 
        duplicate list and description of the articles seized, to the 
        United States attorney for the district in which the seizure 
        was made, who shall proceed to a condemnation of the 
        merchandise or other property in the manner prescribed by law.
    ``(b) Court-Appointed Counsel.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a person filing a claim under 
        subsection (a), or a claim regarding property seized under 
        another law that incorporates by reference the seizure, 
        forfeiture, and condemnation procedures of the customs laws, is 
        financially unable to obtain representation of counsel, the 
        court may appoint appropriate counsel to represent the person 
        with respect to the claim.
            ``(2) Compensation.--(A) The court shall set the 
        compensation for counsel appointed under paragraph (1) in an 
        amount that is equivalent to that provided for counsel 
        appointed under section 3006A of title 18, United States Code.
            ``(B) Compensation of counsel appointed under paragraph (1) 
        shall be paid from the Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund 
        established under section 524 of title 28, United States 
        Code.''.

SEC. 5. BURDEN OF PROOF IN FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS.

    Section 615 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1615) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 615. BURDEN OF PROOF IN FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS.

    ``(a) In General.--In a suit or action described in subsection (b), 
the burden of proof is on the Government to establish by clear and 
convincing evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture.
    ``(b) Suits and Actions Described.--A suit or action is described 
in this subsection if it is--
            ``(1) a suit or action (other than a suit or action arising 
        under section 592) brought for the forfeiture of a vessel, 
        vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under any law 
        relating to the collection of duties on imports or tonnage; or
            ``(2) a suit or action brought for the recovery of the 
        value of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or 
        baggage, because of a violation of that law.''.

SEC. 6. RELEASE OF SEIZED PROPERTY FOR SUBSTANTIAL HARDSHIP.

    Section 614 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1614) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) Release Upon Payment.--'' before 
        ``If''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Release of Seized Property for Substantial Hardship.--
            ``(1) Request for release.--(A) A claimant is entitled to 
        immediate release of seized property if continued possession by 
        the Government would cause the claimant substantial hardship.
            ``(B) A claimant seeking release of property under this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(i) request possession of the property from the 
                appropriate customs officer; and
                    ``(ii) state in the request the basis for such 
                release.
            ``(2) Civil action.--(A) If, within 10 days after the date 
        on which a request is made under paragraph (1), the subject 
        property has not been released, the claimant may file a 
        complaint in any district court that would have jurisdiction 
        over forfeiture proceedings relating to the property.
            ``(B) A complaint under subparagraph (B) shall state--
                    ``(i) the nature of the claim to the seized 
                property;
                    ``(ii) the reason why the continued possession by 
                the United States Government pending the final 
                disposition of forfeiture proceedings will cause 
                substantial hardship to the claimant; and
                    ``(iii) the steps that the claimant has taken to 
                secure release of the property from the appropriate 
                customs officer.
            ``(3) Return of property.--If a complaint is filed under 
        paragraph (2), the district court shall order that the property 
        be returned to the claimant, pending completion of proceedings 
        by the United States Government to obtain forfeiture of the 
        property, if the claimant shows that--
                    ``(A) the claimant is likely to demonstrate a 
                possessory interest in the seized property; and
                    ``(B) continued possession by the United States 
                Government of the seized property is likely to cause 
                substantial hardship to the claimant.
            ``(4) Conditions.--The court may place such conditions on 
        release of the property as the court finds are appropriate to 
        preserve the availability of the property or its equivalent for 
        forfeiture.
            ``(5) Time for decision.--The district court shall render a 
        decision on a complaint filed under paragraph (2) no later than 
        30 days after the date of the filing, unless such 30-day 
        limitation is extended by consent of the parties or by the 
        court for good cause shown.''.

SEC. 7. JUSTICE ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND.

    Section 524(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
                striking ``law enforcement'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) and (I) as 
                subparagraphs (I) and (J), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the 
                following new subparagraph:
            ``(H) payment of court-awarded compensation for 
        representation of claimants pursuant to section 608(b) of the 
        Tariff Act of 1930;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ``(H)'' and inserting 
        ``(I)''.

SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION REGARDING FORFEITURES UNDER THE CONTROLLED 
              SUBSTANCES ACT.

    Section 511(a)(7) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 
881(a)(7)) is amended by striking ``without the knowledge or consent of 
that owner'' and inserting ``either without the knowledge of that owner 
or without the consent of that owner''.

SEC. 9. APPLICABILITY.

    The amendments made by this Act apply with respect to claims filed 
under section 608 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and suits and actions filed 
under section 615 of that Act on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act.