Notwithstanding that no response or claim has been filed pursuant to Section 5322, in all cases where property is forfeited pursuant to this article and, where necessary, sold by the Department of General Services or local governmental entity, the money forfeited or the proceeds of sale shall be distributed by the state or local governmental entity as follows:

(a) To the bona fide or innocent purchaser, conditional sales vendor, or holder of a valid lien, mortgage or security interest, if any, and from the balance of any forfeited funds to any victim of a crime enumerated in Section 5320 committed by the defendant, up to the amount of his or her interest in the property or proceeds, when the court declaring the forfeiture orders a distribution to that person. The court shall endeavor to discover all such lienholders and protect their interests and may, at its discretion, order the proceeds placed in escrow for up to an additional 60 days to ensure that all valid claims are received and processed. The aggregate of all money distributed pursuant to this subdivision and all money received pursuant to a restitution order of a court shall not exceed the amount of the person’s interest in the property or proceeds.

(b) To the Department of General Services or local governmental entity for all expenditures made or incurred by it in connection with the sale of the property, including expenditures for any necessary repairs, storage, or transportation of any property seized under this article.

(c) The balance of forfeiture funds remaining after the obligations in subdivisions (a) and (b) have been satisfied shall be paid to the general fund of the state or local governmental entity, whichever prosecutes.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1280, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1993.)