By Brown S.B. No. 1262
77R4683 ATP-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the authority of an officer to return stolen property
1-3 to its owner.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 47.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Art. 47.01. SUBJECT TO ORDER OF COURT. An officer who comes
1-8 into custody of property alleged to have been stolen must hold it
1-9 subject to the order of the proper court if the ownership of the
1-10 property is contested or disputed[, except that if the officer
1-11 recovers, within 14 days from the date it was reported stolen,
1-12 property which is subject to Chapter 501, Transportation Code, the
1-13 officer need not hold the property subject to the order of the
1-14 proper court but may release the property to the owner, as shown on
1-15 the certificate of title].
1-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.