(a) At any time during or after a criminal proceeding, the court reporter shall release for safekeeping any firearm or contraband received as an exhibit in that proceeding to:
(1) the sheriff; or
(2) in a county with a population of 500,000 or more, the law enforcement agency that collected, seized, or took possession of the firearm or contraband or produced the firearm or contraband at the proceeding.
(b) The sheriff or the law enforcement agency, as applicable, shall receive and hold the exhibits released under Subsection (a) and:
(1) release the exhibits only to a person authorized by the court in which those exhibits have been received; or
(2) dispose of the exhibits as provided by Chapter 18.