Ohio § 1501.45

§ 1501.45.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Forfeiture laws ” means provisions that are established in Title XXIX of the Revised Code and that

govern the forfeiture and disposition of certain property that is seized pursuant

to a law enforcement investigation. (2) “ Law enforcement division ” means the division of forestry, the division of natural areas and preserves, the

division of wildlife or the division of parks and watercraft in the department of

natural resources. (3) “ Law enforcement fund ” means a fund created in this section. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this section and notwithstanding any provision of

the Revised Code that is not in Title XV of the Revised Code to the contrary, the

forfeiture laws apply to a law enforcement division that substantially conducts an

investigation that results in the ordered forfeiture of property and also apply to

the involved forfeiture of property, and the law enforcement division shall comply

with those forfeiture laws.  Accordingly, the portion of the forfeiture laws that authorizes certain proceeds

from forfeited property to be distributed to the law enforcement agency that substantially

conducted the investigation that resulted in the seizure of the subsequently forfeited

property apply to the law enforcement divisions except as provided in division (C)(2)(a)

of this section.  If a law enforcement division is eligible to receive such proceeds, the proceeds

shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the applicable law enforcement

fund. (C)(1) There are hereby created in the state treasury the division of wildlife law enforcement

fund and the natural resources law enforcement fund. (2) The funds shall consist of proceeds from forfeited property that are deposited as

follows: (a) Proceeds from forfeited property resulting from an investigation conducted by the

division of forestry, the division of natural areas and preserves, or the division

of parks and watercraft shall be deposited in the natural resources law enforcement

fund. (b) Proceeds from forfeited property resulting from an investigation conducted by the

division of wildlife shall be deposited in the division of wildlife law enforcement

fund. (3) The funds shall be used for law enforcement purposes specified in the forfeiture

laws as follows: (a) Money in the natural resources law enforcement fund shall be used by the division

of parks and watercraft. (b) Money in the division of wildlife law enforcement fund shall be used by the division

of wildlife. (4) A law enforcement division shall not use its fund to pay the salaries of its employees

or to provide for any other remuneration of personnel. (D) If the forfeiture laws conflict with any provisions that govern forfeitures and that

are established in another section of Title XV of the Revised Code, the provisions

established in the other section of Title XV apply.