2021 Wisconsin Act 87

SUBCHAPTER VIII

administration of property

87,111 Section 111. 177.0801 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0801 Deposit of funds by administrator. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the administrator shall deposit in the common school fund all funds received under this chapter, including proceeds from the sale of property under subch. VII and amounts received from the redemption of U.S. savings bonds under s. 177.1504.

(2) The administrator shall deposit in the general fund an amount that the administrator reasonably estimates is sufficient to pay claims allowed under this chapter and administrative expenses. For purposes of this subsection, “administrative expenses” means any of the following:

(a) Expenses for the disposition of property delivered to the administrator.

(b) Costs of mailing and publication in connection with property delivered to the administrator.

(c) Reasonable service charges.

(d) Expenses incurred in examining records of or collecting property from a putative holder or holder.

(e) Any costs in connection with the sale of abandoned property.

(f) Any costs in connection with the action under s. 177.0907 and the redemption of a U.S. savings bond under s. 177.0907.

(g) Salaries of the employees of the office of the state treasurer and the administrator that are attributable to the administration of this chapter.

(h) Any costs in connection with the payment of interest under s. 177.0607.

87,112 Section 112. 177.0802 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0802 Administrator to retain records of property. The administrator shall do all of the following:

(1) Record the name, last-known address, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and date of birth of each person shown on a report filed under s. 177.0401 to be the apparent owner of property delivered to the administrator.

(2) Record the name, last-known address, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and date of birth of each insured or annuitant and beneficiary shown on the report.

(3) For each policy of insurance or annuity contract listed in the report of an insurance company, record the policy or account number, the name of the company, and the amount due or paid.

(4) For each apparent owner listed in the report, record the name of the holder that filed the report and the amount due or paid.

(5) For each U.S. savings bond, record the name and last-known address of each owner of the U.S. savings bond and the issue date, face amount, and serial number of the U.S. savings bond.

87,113 Section 113. 177.09 of the statutes is renumbered 177.0215.

87,114 Section 114 . Subchapter IX (title) of chapter 177 [precedes 177.0901] of the statutes is created to read:

CHAPTER 177

SUBCHAPTER IX

Claim to recover property

from administrator

87,115 Section 115. 177.0901 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0901 Claim of another state to recover property. (1) If the administrator knows that property held by the administrator under this chapter is subject to a superior claim of another state, the administrator shall report and pay or deliver the property to the other state or return the property to the holder so that the holder may pay or deliver the property to the other state.

(2) The administrator may enter into an agreement to transfer property to the other state under sub. (1).

87,116 Section 116. 177.0902 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0902 When property subject to recovery by another state. (1) Property held under this chapter by the administrator is subject to the right of another state to take custody of the property if any of the following applies:

(a) The property was paid or delivered to the administrator because the records of the holder did not reflect a last-known address in the other state of the apparent owner and the other state establishes that the last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property was in the other state or, under the law of the other state, the property has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

(b) The records of the holder did not accurately identify the owner of the property, the last-known address of the owner was in another state, and, under the law of the other state, the property has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

(c) The property was subject to the custody of the administrator of this state under s. 177.0305 and, under the law of the state of domicile of the holder, the property has become subject to a claim by the state of domicile of the holder of abandonment.

(d) The property is a sum payable on a traveler's check, money order, or similar instrument that was purchased in the other state and delivered to the administrator under s. 177.0306 and, under the law of the other state, has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

(2) A claim by another state to recover property under this section must be presented in a form prescribed by the administrator, unless the administrator waives presentation of the form.

(3) The administrator shall make a decision regarding each claim under this section no later than 90 days after the claim is presented to the administrator. If the administrator determines that the other state is entitled under sub. (1) to custody of the property, the administrator shall allow the claim and pay or deliver the property to the other state.

(4) The administrator may require another state, before recovering property under this section, to agree to indemnify this state and its agents, officers, and employees against any liability on a claim to the property.

87,117 Section 117. 177.0903 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0903 Claim for property by person claiming to be owner. (1) A person claiming to be the owner of property held under this chapter by the administrator may file a claim for the property on a form prescribed by the administrator. The claimant shall verify the claim as to its completeness and accuracy.

(2) The administrator may waive the requirement under sub. (1) and may pay or deliver property directly to a person if the person receiving the property or payment is shown to be the apparent owner included on a report filed under s. 177.0401 and the administrator reasonably believes the person is entitled to receive the property or payment.

(3) If a claim is submitted by a locator service that enters into an agreement under subch. XIII, a copy of the agreement shall be filed with the claim, otherwise the administrator shall deny the claim.

(4) The administrator may use state tax information to assist in identifying the owner of property that has been abandoned as provided under this chapter or in verifying a claim filed under this subchapter.

87,118 Section 118. 177.0904 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0904 When administrator must honor claim for property. (1) (a) The administrator shall pay or deliver property to a claimant under s. 177.0903 (1) if the administrator receives evidence sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the administrator that the claimant is the owner of the property.

(b) If a claim is made and allowed under subch. XIII, the administrator shall pay or deliver property to the apparent owner of the property.

(2) Not later than 90 days after a claim is filed under s. 177.0903 (1), the administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice in a record of the decision. The administrator may refer any claim to the attorney general for an opinion. For each claim referred, the attorney general shall advise the administrator either to allow it or to deny it in whole or in part.

(3) If the administrator denies a claim under sub. (2), the administrator shall inform the claimant of the reason for the denial and specify what additional evidence, if any, is required for the claim to be allowed. The claimant may file an amended claim with the administrator or commence an action under s. 177.0906. The administrator shall consider an amended complaint filed under this subsection as an initial claim.

(4) If the administrator does not take action on a claim during the 90-day period following the filing of a claim under s. 177.0903 (1), the claim is denied.

87,119 Section 119. 177.0905 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0905 Allowance of claim for property. (1) Not later than 30 days after a claim is allowed under s. 177.0904 (2), the administrator shall pay or deliver the property to the owner or pay to the owner the net proceeds of a sale of the property, together with interest, income, or gain to which the owner is entitled under s. 177.0607. Upon request of the owner, the administrator may sell or liquidate a security and pay the net proceeds to the owner, even if the security has been held by the administrator for less than one year or the administrator has not complied with the notice requirements under s. 177.0503.

(2) If the owner is a debtor under s. 71.93 or 71.935, before delivery or payment of property to an owner under sub. (1) or payment to the owner of net proceeds of a sale of the property, the administrator shall first setoff against the owner's debt under s. 71.93 or 71.935.

(3) Any property paid or delivered to a person under this subchapter is subject to recovery by the administrator as provided in s. 177.1206.

87,120 Section 120. 177.0906 of the statutes is created to read:

177.0906 Action by person whose claim is denied. (1) A person aggrieved by a claim denial of the administrator or whose claim has not been acted upon within 90 days after its filing may petition for judicial review of the decision or of the claim under s. 227.52, notwithstanding s. 227.52 (1), except that petitions for review shall be served and filed within 90 days after the claim denial or within 180 days after the filing of the claim if the administrator has failed to act on it.

(2) If the person aggrieved establishes a claim under sub. (1) and is a debtor under s. 71.93 or 71.935, the administrator shall first setoff against the person's debt under s. 71.93 or 71.935 before delivery or payment of the property to the owner.

87,121 Section 121. 177.10 of the statutes is repealed.

87,122 Section 122 . Subchapter X (title) of chapter 177 [precedes 177.1001] of the statutes is created to read:

CHAPTER 177

SUBCHAPTER X

requests for reports;

examination of records

87,123 Section 123. 177.1001 of the statutes is created to read:

177.1001 Verified report of property. If a person does not file a report required under s. 177.0401 or the administrator believes that a person may have filed an inaccurate, incomplete, or false report, the administrator may require the person to file a verified report in a form prescribed by the administrator. A verified report shall include all of the following:

(1) A statement as to whether the person is holding property that is reportable under this chapter.

(2) A description of the property not previously reported or about which the administrator has inquired.

(3) A specific identification of property described under sub. (2) about which there is a dispute whether it is reportable under this chapter.

(4) The amount or value of the property.

87,124 Section 124. 177.1002 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

177.1002 (3) The administrator may at reasonable times and on reasonable notice issue an administrative subpoena requiring the person or agent of the person to make records available for examination. The attorney general may bring an action seeking judicial enforcement of a subpoena issued under this subsection.

87,125 Section 125. 177.1002 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

177.1002 (4) If any person fails to file any report or refuses to deliver property to the administrator as required under this chapter, the administrator may bring an action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to require the filing of the report and to enforce delivery of the property.

87,126 Section 126. 177.1003 of the statutes is created to read:

177.1003 Records obtained in examination. Records obtained and records, including work papers, compiled by the administrator in the course of conducting an examination under s. 177.1002:

(1) Are subject to the confidentiality and security provisions of subch. XIV and are not public records for purposes of subch. II of ch. 19.

(2) May be used by the administrator in an action to collect property or otherwise enforce this chapter.

(3) May be used in a joint examination conducted with another state, the federal government, a foreign country or subordinate unit of a foreign country, or any other governmental entity if the governmental entity conducting the examination is legally bound to maintain the confidentiality and security of information obtained from a person subject to examination in a manner substantially equivalent to that under subch. XIV.

(4) May be disclosed to the person that administers the unclaimed property law of another state, upon that person's request, for that state's use in circumstances equivalent to circumstances described in this subchapter, if the other state is required to maintain the confidentiality and security of information obtained in a manner substantially equivalent to that under subch. XIV.

87,127 Section 127. 177.11 of the statutes is repealed.

87,128 Section 128 . Subchapter XI (title) of chapter 177 [precedes 177.1101] of the statutes is created to read:

CHAPTER 177

SUBCHAPTER XI

Assessments and appeals

87,129 Section 129. 177.1101 of the statutes is created to read:

177.1101 Default assessment. When any person fails, neglects, or refuses to file a report by the deadline prescribed by this chapter, the administrator may, notwithstanding ss. 177.1001 and 177.1002, petition a court to determine the liability of such holder based on the court's findings as to a reasonable estimate of the amount due.

87,130 Section 130. 177.1102 of the statutes is created to read:

177.1102 Notice of assessment. The administrator shall notify a person in writing of any assessment under this chapter. The administrator shall serve that notice as provided in s. 73.03 (73m). If the person is a corporation and the administrator is unable to serve that corporation as provided in s. 73.03 (73m), the administrator may serve the notice by publishing a class 3 notice under ch. 985 in the official state newspaper.

87,131 Section 131. 177.1103 of the statutes is created to read:

177.1103 Appeal of assessment. The appeal provisions under ss. 71.88 (1) (a) and (2) (a), 71.89, 71.90, 73.01 (1), (2), (3), (4), and (4m), and 73.015, as they apply to a taxpayer and the department of revenue and consistent with this chapter, shall apply to the person or holder and the administrator with respect to an assessment under this chapter.