Today, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 443, one of the most important reforms for civil forfeiture in recent years. ... The new law is aimed at closing a loophole that allowed law enforcement to evade state protections. -- snip -- Through a federal forfeiture program called equitable sharing, state and local law enforcement agencies may collaborate with a federal agency, like the DEA or ICE, and forfeit seized property under federal law, even if that would circumvent Californias more stringent protections for property owners.