Bill Description: House Bill 575 would require law enforcement to report asset forfeitures to the State Controller, and instruct the Controller to store, maintain, and publish the list. 

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Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, accountability, or election integrity? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency, accountability, or election integrity?

The practice of asset forfeiture raises serious constitutional objections, which House Bill 575 does not address. What it would do is amend Section 67-1001, Idaho Code, to require the State Controller to “store, maintain, and publish a current list of civil asset forfeitures pursuant to section 37-2744, Idaho Code.”

The bill would also amend Section 37-2744, Idaho Code, to require “state and local law enforcement agencies” to “by April 1 of each year, submit information described pursuant to this subsection relating to the previous calendar year to the state controller for storage, maintenance, and publication pursuant to section 67-1001, Idaho Code.”

This referenced subsection relates to asset forfeiture.

This bill could help provide some additional transparency to the practice of asset forfeiture.

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