177.28
177.28
Destruction or disposition of property having insubstantial commercial value; immunity from liability. If the administrator determines after investigation that any property delivered under this chapter has insubstantial commercial value, the administrator may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property at any time. No action or proceeding may be maintained against this state or any of its officers or against the holder for or on account of any action taken by the administrator under this section.
177.28 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.29
177.29
Periods of limitation. 177.29(1)
(1) The expiration, before, on or after December 31, 1984, of any period of time specified by contract, statute or court order, during which an owner may make a claim for money or property or during which an owner may commence or enforce an action or proceeding to obtain payment of a claim for money or to recover property, does not prevent the money or property from being presumed abandoned or affect any duty to file a report or to pay or deliver abandoned property to the administrator as required by this chapter, subject to
sub. (2).
177.29(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no civil action or proceeding with respect to any duty of a holder under this chapter may be commenced more than 5 years after the duty arose.
177.29(2)(b)
(b) The expiration of any period of time during which an action or proceeding may be commenced or enforced to obtain payment of a claim for money or to recover property may not serve as a defense to an action or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the administrator against a governmental entity, or an officer or employe thereof, for the payment or delivery of abandoned property to the administrator or for the enforcement of a penalty.
177.29 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1991 a. 299.
177.30
177.30
Requests for reports and examination of records. 177.30(2)(2) The administrator, at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, may examine the records of any person to determine whether the person has complied with this chapter. The administrator may designate the division of banking or other appropriate regulatory authority to examine the records of regulated institutions to determine if the institutions have complied with this chapter. The administrator may conduct the examination even if the person believes it is not in possession of any property reportable or deliverable under this chapter.
177.30(3)
(3) If a person is treated under
s. 177.12 as the holder of the property only insofar as the interest of the business association in the property is concerned, the administrator may examine the records of the person as provided under
sub. (2) if the administrator has given the required notice to both the person and the business association at least 90 days before the examination.
177.30(4)
(4) If an examination of the records of a person results in the disclosure of property reportable and deliverable under this chapter, the administrator may assess the cost of the examination against the holder at the rate of $150 a day for each examiner, but the charges may not exceed the value of the property found to be reportable and deliverable. The cost of examination under
sub. (3) may be imposed only against the business association.
177.30(5)
(5) If a holder, after December 31, 1984, fails to maintain the records required under
s. 177.31, and the records of the holder available for the periods subject to this chapter are insufficient to permit the preparation of a report, a court may determine the liability of such holder based on the court's findings as to a reasonable estimate of the amount due.
177.30 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1995 a. 27.
177.31
177.31
Retention of records. 177.31(1)
(1) Every holder required to file a report under
s. 177.17 shall, as to any property for which it has obtained the last-known address of the owner, maintain a record of the name and last-known address of the owner for 5 years after the property is reported, unless a shorter time is provided in
sub. (2) or by rule of the administrator.
177.31(2)
(2) Any business association that sells in this state its travelers checks, money orders or other similar written instruments, other than 3rd party bank checks on which the business association is directly liable, or that provides such instruments to others for sale in this state, shall, for 3 years after the date the property is reportable, maintain a record of those instruments while they remain outstanding, indicating the state and date of issue.
177.31 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.32
177.32
Enforcement. The attorney general may bring an action in circuit court or in federal court to enforce this chapter.
177.32 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1991 a. 299.
177.33
177.33
Interstate agreements and cooperation; joint and reciprocal actions with other states. 177.33(1)
(1) The administrator may enter into agreements with other states to exchange information needed to enable this or another state to audit or otherwise determine unclaimed property that it or another state may be entitled to subject to a claim of custody. The administrator may by rule require the reporting of information needed to enable compliance with agreements made under this section and may prescribe the form of the required reports.
177.33(2)
(2) To avoid conflicts between the administrator's procedures and the procedures of administrators in other jurisdictions that enact the uniform unclaimed property act, the administrator shall, consistent with the purposes, policies and provisions of this chapter, before adopting, amending or repealing rules, advise and consult with administrators in other jurisdictions that enact substantially the uniform unclaimed property act and shall take into consideration the rules of administrators in other jurisdictions that enact the uniform unclaimed property act.
177.33(3)
(3) The administrator may join with other states to seek enforcement of this chapter against any person who is or may be holding property reportable under this chapter.
177.33(4)
(4) At the request of another state, the attorney general may bring an action in the name of the administrator of the other state in the circuit court to enforce the unclaimed property laws of the other state against a holder in this state of property subject to escheat or a claim of abandonment by the other state, if the other state has agreed to pay expenses incurred by the attorney general in bringing the action.
177.33(5)
(5) The administrator may request the attorney general of another state or any other person to bring an action in the other state in the name of the administrator. This state shall pay all expenses including attorney fees in any action under this subsection. The administrator may agree to pay the person bringing the action attorney fees based in whole or in part on a percentage of the value of any property recovered in the action. No expenses paid under this subsection may be deducted from the amount that is subject to the claim by the owner under this chapter.
177.33 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.34
177.34
Interest and penalties. 177.34(1)
(1) A person who fails to pay or deliver property within the time prescribed by this chapter shall pay the administrator interest at the annual rate of 18% on the property or value thereof from the date the property should have been paid or delivered.
177.34(2)
(2) A person who wilfully fails to file a report or perform any other duty required under this chapter is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 for each day the report is withheld or the duty is not performed, but not more than $5,000.
177.34(3)
(3) A person who wilfully fails to pay or deliver property to the administrator as required under this chapter is subject to a forfeiture equal to 25% of the value of the property that should have been paid or delivered.
177.34(4)
(4) A person who wilfully refuses, after written demand by the administrator, to pay or deliver property to the administrator as required under this chapter may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
177.34 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.35
177.35
Agreement to locate reported property. 177.35(1)(1) Except for agreements made under
s. 177.33, if a person agrees, for compensation and on behalf of the owner of property reported under
s. 177.17, to locate, deliver, recover or assist in the recovery of the reported property, the agreement shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:
177.35(1)(a)
(a) A description of the property and the value of the property.
177.35(1)(b)
(b) A clear and prominent statement of the fee or other compensation to be paid by or on behalf of the owner, which may not exceed 20% of the actual value of the property recovered.
177.35(1)(c)
(c) A clear and prominent statement disclosing the name and address of the holder and whether the property has been paid to the administrator.
177.35(2)
(2) An agreement entered into under this section is not enforceable if the agreement is entered into within 24 months after payment or delivery of the property is due under
s. 177.19 (1).
177.35 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
1987 a. 399.
177.36
177.36
Foreign transactions. This chapter does not apply to any property held, due and owing in a foreign country and arising out of a foreign transaction.
177.36 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.37
177.37
Effect of new provisions; clarification of application. 177.37(1)(1) This chapter does not relieve a holder of a duty that arose before December 31, 1984 to report, pay or deliver property. A holder who did not comply with the law in effect before December 31, 1984 is subject to the applicable enforcement and penalty provisions that then existed and they are continued in effect for the purpose of this subsection, except as provided in
s. 177.29 (2).
177.37(2)
(2) The initial report filed under this chapter for property that was not required to be reported before December 31, 1984, but which is subject to this chapter, shall include all items of property that would have been presumed abandoned during the 10-year period preceding December 31, 1984 as if this chapter had been in effect during that period.
177.37 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.38
177.38
Rules. The administrator may adopt any rules necessary to administer this chapter.
177.38 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.40
177.40
Uniformity of application and construction. This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it.
177.40 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
177.41
177.41
Escheat of property to municipalities. If any statute provides for the escheat of abandoned or unclaimed property to a county, city, village or town, this chapter does not apply.
177.41 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
