A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT AMENDING THE HOLDING AND ADVERTISING PERIOD FOR UNCLAIMED LIVESTOCK.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 68‑20 reads as rewritten:
"§ 68‑20.  Notice of sale and sale where owner fails to redeem or is unknown; application of proceeds.
If the owner fails to redeem his livestock within three days after the notice and demand as provided in G.S. 68‑18 is received or within three days after the determination of the costs and damages as provided in G.S. 68‑19, then, upon written notice fully describing the livestock, stating the place, date, and hour of sale posted at the courthouse door and three or more public places in the township where the owner resides, and after 10 days from such posting, the impounder shall sell the livestock at public auction. If the owner of the livestock remains unknown to the impounder, then, three days after publication of the notice required by G.S. 68‑18.1, the impounder shall post at the courthouse door and three public places in the township where the livestock is impounded a written notice fully describing the livestock, and stating the place, date, and hour of sale. After 10 days from such posting, the impounder shall sell the livestock at public auction. The proceeds of any such public sale shall be applied to pay the reasonable costs of impounding and maintaining the livestock and the damages to the impounder caused by the livestock. Reasonable costs of impounding shall include any fees paid pursuant to G.S. 68‑18.1 in an attempt to locate the owner of the livestock. The balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner of the livestock, if known, or, if the owner is not known, then to the school fund of the county where the livestock was impounded."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to livestock impounded on or after that date.