ORS 358.924: Objects held unlawfully considered contraband; seizure; procedure; disposition of seized objects.

(1) Archaeological objects, funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony that are held in violation of the provisions of ORS 358.920 or 390.235 are contraband. A police officer shall seize all items declared to be contraband under the provisions of this section if the police officer has reasonable cause to believe the items are held in violation of the provisions of ORS 358.920 or 390.235. (2) A law enforcement agency employing a police officer who seizes contraband items under this section shall give notice of the seizure to the district attorney for the county in which the items are seized and the Commission on Indian Services. The district attorney shall promptly investigate to determine whether any person or Indian tribe claims the items seized. The commission shall designate any appropriate Indian tribe and give notice to the tribe of the seizure. (3) If any person claims items seized under this section, the district attorney shall file a petition with the circuit court for the county for an expedited hearing on the claim. The court shall conduct a hearing for the sole purposes of determining: (a) Whether the items are archaeological objects, funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony; (b) Whether any arrowheads seized under this section were collected in compliance with ORS 358.920 (1)(b); and (c) Whether a person claiming an item other than an arrowhead can lawfully possess the item under ORS 358.905 to 358.961. (4) If items seized under this section are not claimed by any person, or the circuit court determines that the items may not be returned to the claimant under the provisions of subsection (3) of this section: (a) Archaeological objects shall be delivered to the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology and curated as described in ORS 358.920 (4)(a). (b) Funerary objects, human remains, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony shall be returned to the appropriate tribe for reinterment or other disposition as provided in ORS 358.940. [2001 c.739 §2; 2017 c.242 §2]