Duchy Trachtenberg Introduces Bill to Expand Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds in Montgomery County

October 13, 2009. Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg Introduces Bill to Expand Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds in Montgomery County; Bill 35-09 Would Allow Money Seized From Drug Criminals To Be Used for Drug Treatment and Prevention Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 13, 2009—Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) introduced Expedited Bill 35-09 that will allow money seized from criminals convicted of drug-related crimes to be used for drug treatment and prevention programs. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by Council President Phil Andrews, Council Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Nancy Navarro, amends current law that restricts the use of Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Funds to “expenses related to enforcement of laws regarding controlled dangerous substances.”

The Drug Enforcement Forfeitures Fund (DEFF) contains money that is forfeited to the County under state law as drug-related contraband. The fund includes cash and the proceeds of the sale of real and personal property seized during drug enforcement actions. The DEFF had a balance of $2,686,145 at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2009 and had approximately $2.3 million at the beginning of FY10.

Councilmember Trachtenberg, who chairs the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee and serves on its Health and Human Services Committee, said a change in the law regarding how forfeited funds could be spent will be important as the County continues to face budget shortfalls that are impacting programs, such as drug prevention and drug treatment programs.

“Drug prevention and treatment programs, and the operation of the Drug Court, are important parts of a successful campaign to reduce the use of controlled dangerous substances,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg. “Recent severe shortfalls in County revenue make it important to look for alternative sources to fund these critical programs. It is hard to think of a better use of money seized from drug offenders than to allocate it toward people who want help for their drug-related problems.”

Allocating DEFF funds for drug treatment and prevention programs would increase the non-tax supported alternative funding available for these critical programs.