2023 Texas Statutes › Civil Practice and Remedies Code › Title 6 - Miscellaneous Provisions › Chapter 140B - Civil Remedies and Enforcement Related to Racketeering and Unlawful Debt Collection › Subchapter D. Disposition of Funds Obtained Through Forfeiture Actions › Section 140B.152. Distribution of Remaining Money

Sec. 140B.152.  DISTRIBUTION OF REMAINING MONEY.  (a)  Following satisfaction of all valid claims under Section 140B.151, the remaining money obtained in the forfeiture proceeding shall be deposited as follows:
(1)  25 percent into the appropriate trust fund of the attorney general or local prosecutor's office that filed the civil forfeiture action as provided by Subsection (c);
(2)  25 percent into the applicable law enforcement trust fund of the investigative agency that conducted the investigation that resulted in or significantly contributed to the forfeiture of the property as provided by Subsection (d); and
(3)  50 percent into the general revenue fund.
(b)  If a forfeiture action is filed by the attorney general or a local prosecutor, the court entering the judgment of forfeiture shall, taking into account the overall effort and contribution to the investigation and forfeiture action by the agencies that filed the action, make a pro rata apportionment among those agencies of the money available for distribution to those agencies as provided by this subchapter.  If multiple investigative agencies have contributed to the forfeiture of the property, the court that entered the judgment of forfeiture shall, taking into account the overall effort and contribution of the agencies to the investigation and forfeiture action, make a pro rata apportionment among those investigative agencies of the money available for distribution to the investigative agencies as provided by this subchapter.
(c)  If a forfeiture action is filed by the attorney general, any money obtained by the attorney general under this section shall be deposited in the same manner described by Article 59.06(k)(3), Code of Criminal Procedure, and may be expended for the purposes and in the manner authorized by that section.
(d)  If a forfeiture action is filed by a district or county attorney, any money obtained by the district or county attorney's office under this section may be used to pay the costs of investigations under Subchapter B and the resulting criminal prosecutions and civil actions. Such costs may include:
(1)  all taxable costs;
(2)  costs of protecting, maintaining, and forfeiting the property;
(3)  employees' base salaries and compensation for overtime; and
(4)  other costs that are directly attributable to the investigation, prosecution, or civil action.
(e)  Any money distributed to an investigative agency under Subsection (a) shall be deposited in the applicable law enforcement fund or account established for that agency and expended for the purposes and in the manner authorized for that fund or account.  In addition, any money distributed to an investigative agency under this section may be used to pay the costs of investigations under Subchapter B and the resulting criminal prosecutions and civil actions. Such costs may include:
(1)  all taxable costs;
(2)  costs of protecting, maintaining, and forfeiting the property;
(3)  employees' base salaries and compensation for overtime; and
(4)  other costs directly attributable to the investigation, prosecution, or civil action.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885 (H.B. 4635), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.