(a) If a law enforcement agency identifies serialized property or any property reported pursuant to Section 21628 of the Business and Professions Code that has been reported lost or stolen by the owner or a person entitled to possession of the property and the property has been entered into the appropriate Department of Justice automated property system pursuant to Section 11108 or 11108.2, the agency shall notify the owner or person claiming to be entitled to possession of the property of the location of the property within 15 days of making the identification. If the location of the property was reported by a licensed pawnbroker or secondhand dealer pursuant to Section 21630 of the Business and Professions Code, notwithstanding the method by which the property was identified, notice shall be given to the party who reported the property lost or stolen pursuant to Section 21647 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b) If the property is in the custody of the law enforcement agency and it is determined that the property is no longer required for use as evidence in a criminal case, the property shall be made available to the person entitled to possession pursuant to Section 1417.5 or if the property was found in the possession of a licensed pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, pursuant to Section 21647 of the Business and Professions Code.

(c) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to the return to an owner of a lost or stolen vehicle, as defined in Section 670 of the Vehicle Code if the report of theft or loss of the vehicle into the automated property system preceded the report of the acquisition of property as set forth in Section 21628 of the Business and Professions Code by a licensed pawnbroker.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 864, Sec. 4. (AB 2222) Effective January 1, 2019.)