Chapter 1A. Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

Subchapter I. Short Title; Definitions; Rules.

§ 41–151.01. Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the "Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act of 2021".

§ 41–151.02. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "Administrator" means the authorized representative of the Mayor.

(2) "Administrator's agent" means a person with which the Administrator contracts to conduct an examination under subchapter X of this chapter on behalf of the Administrator. The term includes an independent contractor of the person and each individual participating in the examination on behalf of the person or contractor.

(3) "Apparent owner" means a person whose name appears on the records of a holder as the owner of property held, issued, or owing by the holder.

(4) "Attorney General" means the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.

(5) "Business association" means a corporation, joint stock company, investment company other than an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, approved August 22, 1940 (54 Stat. 789; 15 U.S.C. §§ 80a-1 et seq.), partnership, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, business trust, trust company, land bank, safe deposit company, safekeeping depository, financial organization, insurance company, federally chartered entity, utility, sole proprietorship, or other business entity, whether or not for profit.

(6) "Confidential information" means records, reports, and information that are confidential under § 41-164.02.

(7) "District" means the District of Columbia.

(8) "Domicile" means:

(A) For a corporation, the state of its incorporation;

(B) For a business association whose formation requires a filing with a state, other than a corporation, the state of its filing;

(C) For a federally chartered entity or an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, approved August 22, 1940 (54 Stat. 789; 15 U.S.C. §§ 80a-1 et seq.), the state of its home office; and

(D) For any other holder, the state of its principal place of business.

(9) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

(10) "Electronic mail" means a communication by electronic means that is automatically retained and stored and may be readily accessed or retrieved.

(11) "Financial organization" means a savings and loan association, building and loan association, savings bank, industrial bank, bank, banking organization, or credit union.

(12)(A) "Game-related digital content" means digital content that exists only in an electronic game or electronic-game platform.

(B) The term "game-related digital content" includes:

(i) Game-play currency such as a virtual wallet, even if denominated in United States currency; and

(ii) The following if for use or redemption only within the game or platform or another electronic game or electronic-game platform:

(I) Points, sometimes referred to as gems, tokens, gold, and similar names; and

(II) Digital codes.

(i) Permits to be redeemed for use outside a game or platform for:

(I) Money; or

(II) Goods or services that have more than minimal value; or

(ii) Otherwise monetizes for use outside a game or platform.

(13)(A) "Gift card" means a stored-value card:

(i) The value of which does not expire;

(ii) That may be decreased in value only by redemption for merchandise, goods, or services; and

(iii) That, unless required by law, may not be redeemed for or converted into money or otherwise monetized by the issuer.

(B) The term "gift card" includes a prepaid commercial mobile radio service, as defined in 47 C.F.R. 20.3.

(14) "Holder" means a person obligated to hold for the account of, or to deliver or pay to, the owner, property subject to this chapter.

(15) "Insurance company" means an association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual-benefit organization, whether or not for profit, engaged in the business of providing life endowments, annuities, or insurance, including accident, burial, casualty, credit-life, contract-performance, dental, disability, fidelity, fire, health, hospitalization, illness, life, malpractice, marine, mortgage, surety, wage-protection, and worker-compensation insurance.

(16) "Loyalty card" means a record given without direct monetary consideration under an award, reward, benefit, loyalty, incentive, rebate, or promotional program that may be used or redeemed only to obtain goods or services or a discount on goods or services. The term does not include a record that may be redeemed for money or otherwise monetized by the issuer.

(17) "Mineral" means gas, oil, coal, oil shale, other gaseous liquid or solid hydrocarbon, cement material, sand and gravel, road material, building stone, chemical raw material, gemstone, fissionable and nonfissionable ores, colloidal and other clay, steam and other geothermal resources, and any other substance defined as a mineral by law of the District other than this chapter.

(18)(A) "Mineral proceeds" means an amount payable for extraction, production, or sale of minerals, or, on the abandonment of the amount, an amount that becomes payable after abandonment.

(B) The term "mineral proceeds" includes an amount payable:

(i) For the acquisition and retention of a mineral lease, including a bonus, royalty, compensatory royalty, shut-in royalty, minimum royalty, and delay rental;

(ii) For the extraction, production, or sale of minerals, including a net revenue interest, royalty, overriding royalty, extraction payment, and production payment; and

(iii) Under an agreement or option, including a joint-operating agreement, unit agreement, pooling agreement, and farm-out agreement.

(19) "Money order" means a payment order for a specified amount of money, including an express money order and a personal money order on which the remitter is the purchaser.

(20) "Municipal bond" means a bond or evidence of indebtedness issued by a municipality or other political subdivision of a state.

(21) "Net card value" means the original purchase price or original issued value of a stored-value card, plus amounts added to the original price or value, minus amounts used and any service charge, fee, or dormancy charge permitted by law.

(22) "Non-freely transferable security" means a security that cannot be delivered to the Administrator by the Depository Trust Clearing Corporation or similar custodian of securities providing post-trade clearing and settlement services to financial markets or cannot be delivered because there is no agent to effect transfer. The term includes a worthless security.

(23) "Owner" means a person that has a legal, beneficial, or equitable interest in property subject to this chapter or the person's legal representative when acting on behalf of the owner, including:

(A) A depositor, for a deposit;

(B) A beneficiary, for a trust other than a deposit in trust;

(D) The lawful bearer of a record that may be used to obtain money, a reward, or a thing of value.

(24) "Payroll card" means a record that evidences a payroll-card account as defined in Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. Part 1005.

(25) "Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity.

(26)(A) "Property" means tangible property described in § 41-152.05 or a fixed and certain interest in intangible property held, issued, or owed in the course of a holder's business or by a government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality.

(B) The term "property" includes all income from or increments to the property and includes property referred to as or evidenced by:

(i) Money, virtual currency, interest, or a dividend, check, draft, deposit, or payroll card;

(ii) A credit balance, customer's overpayment, stored-value card, security deposit, refund, credit memorandum, unpaid wage, unused ticket for which the issuer has an obligation to provide a refund, mineral proceeds, or unidentified remittance;

(iii) A security, except for:

(I) A worthless security; or

(II) A security that is subject to a lien, legal hold, or restriction evidenced on the records of the holder or imposed by operation of law, if the lien, legal hold, or restriction restricts the holder's or owner's ability to receive, transfer, sell, or otherwise negotiate the security;

(iv) A bond, debenture, note, or other evidence of indebtedness;

(v) Money deposited to redeem a security, make a distribution, or pay a dividend;

(vi) An amount due and payable under an annuity contract or insurance policy; and

(vii) An amount distributable from a trust or custodial fund established under a plan to provide health, welfare, pension, vacation, severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, profit-sharing, employee-savings, supplemental-unemployment insurance, or a similar benefit.

(i) Property held in a plan described in section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved December 19, 2014 (128 Stat. 4056; 26 U.S.C. § 529A);

(ii) Game-related digital content; or

(iii) A loyalty card.

(27) "Putative holder" means a person believed by the Administrator to be a holder, until the person pays or delivers to the Administrator property subject to this chapter or the Administrator or a court makes a final determination that the person is or is not a holder.

(28) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(29) "Security" means:

(A) A security as defined in [§ 28:8-102(a)(15)];

(B) A security entitlement as defined in [§ 28:8-102(a)(17)], including a customer security account held by a registered broker-dealer, to the extent the financial assets held in the security account are not:

(i) Registered on the books of the issuer in the name of the person for which the broker-dealer holds the assets;

(ii) Payable to the order of the person; or

(iii) Specifically indorsed to the person; and

(30) "Sign" means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:

(A) To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

(B) To attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.

(31) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(32)(A) "Stored-value card" means a record evidencing a promise made for consideration by the seller or issuer of the record that goods, services, or money will be provided to the owner of the record to the value or amount shown in the record.

(B) The term "stored-value card" includes:

(i) A record that contains or consists of a microprocessor chip, magnetic strip, or other means for the storage of information that is prefunded and whose value or amount is decreased on each use and increased by payment of additional consideration; and

(ii) A gift card and payroll card.

(33) "Superior Court" means the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

(34) "Utility" means a person that owns or operates for public use a plant, equipment, real property, franchise, or license for the following public services:

(A) Transmission of communications or information;

(B) Production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity, water, steam, or gas; or

(35) "Virtual currency" means a digital representation of value used as a medium of exchange, unit of account, or store of value, which does not have legal tender status recognized by the United States. The term "virtual currency" does not include:

(A) The software or protocols governing the transfer of the digital representation of value;

(B) Game-related digital content; or

(36) "Worthless security" means a security whose cost of liquidation and delivery to the Administrator would exceed the value of the security on the date a report is due under this chapter.

§ 41–151.03. Inapplicability to foreign transaction.

This chapter does not apply to property held, due, and owing in a foreign country if the transaction out of which the property arose was a foreign transaction.

§ 41–151.04. Rules.

(a) The Mayor may, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement this chapter.

(b) The rules issued pursuant to § 41-138, shall remain in effect, unless inconsistent with this chapter, until repealed or amended pursuant to this section.

Subchapter II. Presumption of Abandonment.

§ 41–152.01. When property is presumed abandoned.

Subject to § 41-152.10, the following property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner during the period specified below:

(1) A traveler's check, 15 years after issuance;

(2) A money order, 7 years after issuance;

(3) A state or municipal bond, bearer bond, or original-issue-discount bond, 3 years after the earliest of the date the bond matures or is called or the obligation to pay the principal of the bond arises;

(4) A debt of a business association, 3 years after the obligation to pay arises;

(5) A payroll card or demand, savings, or time deposit, including a deposit that is automatically renewable, 3 years after the maturity of the deposit, except a deposit that is automatically renewable is deemed matured on its initial date of maturity unless the apparent owner consented in a record on file with the holder to renewal at or about the time of the renewal;

(6) Money or a credit owed to a customer as a result of a retail business transaction, 3 years after the obligation arose;

(7) An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, 3 years after the obligation to pay arose under the terms of the policy or contract or, if a policy or contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death has not matured by proof of the death of the insured or annuitant, as follows:

(A) With respect to an amount owed on a life or endowment insurance policy, 3 years after the earlier of the date:

(i) The insurance company has knowledge of the death of the insured; or

(ii) The insured has attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve for the policy is based; and

(B) With respect to an amount owed on an annuity contract, 3 years after the date the insurance company has knowledge of the death of the annuitant.

(8) Property distributable by a business association in the course of dissolution, one year after the property becomes distributable;

(9) Property held by a court, including property received as proceeds of a class action, one year after the property becomes distributable;

(10) Property held by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, including municipal bond interest and unredeemed principal under the administration of a paying agent or indenture trustee, one year after the property becomes distributable;

(11) Wages, commissions, bonuses, or reimbursements to which an employee is entitled, or other compensation for personal services, other than amounts held in a payroll card, one year after the amount becomes payable;

(12) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable; and

(13) Property not specified in this section or §§ 41-152.02 through § 41-152.08, the earlier of 3 years after the owner first has a right to demand the property and 3 years after the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises.

§ 41–152.02. When tax-deferred retirement account presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to § 41-152.10, property held in a pension account or retirement account that qualifies for tax deferral under the income-tax laws of the United States is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the later of:

(1) The following date:

(A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the date a second consecutive communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(B) If the second communication is sent later than 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the first communication was returned undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(2) The earlier of the following dates:

(A) The date the apparent owner becomes 72 years of age, if determinable by the holder; or

(B) If the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved August 16, 1954 (68A Stat. 3; 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) requires distribution to avoid a tax penalty, 2 years after the date the holder:

(i) Receives confirmation of the death of the apparent owner in the ordinary course of its business; or

(ii) Confirms the death of the apparent owner under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) If a holder in the ordinary course of its business receives notice or an indication of the death of an apparent owner and subsection (a)(2) of this section applies, the holder shall attempt not later than 90 days after receipt of the notice or indication to confirm whether the apparent owner is deceased.

(c) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of an account described in subsection (a) of this section by first-class United States mail, the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent owner's interest in the property by sending the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication not later than 2 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the property. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the apparent owner by first-class United States mail if:

(1) The holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner an electronic mail communication or the holder believes that the apparent owner's electronic mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) The holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) The apparent owner does not respond to the electronic-mail communication not later than 30 days after the communication was sent.

(d) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (c) of this section is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after the later of:

(1) Except as in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the date a second consecutive communication to contact the apparent owner sent by first-class United States mail is returned to the holder undelivered;

(2) If the second communication is sent later than 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the first communication was returned undelivered; or

(3) The date established by subsection (a)(2) of this section.

§ 41–152.03. When other tax-deferred account presumed abandoned.

Subject to § 41-152.10 and except for property described in § 41-152.02 and property held in a plan described in section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved December 19, 2014 (128 Stat. 4056; 26 U.S.C. § 529A), property held in an account or plan, including a health savings account, that qualifies for tax deferral under the income-tax laws of the United States is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the earlier of:

(1) The date, if determinable by the holder, specified in the income-tax laws and regulations of the United States by which distribution of the property must begin to avoid a tax penalty, with no distribution having been made; or

(2) 30 years after the date the account was opened.

§ 41–152.04. When custodial account for minor presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to § 41-152.10, property held in an account established under §§ 21-301 to 21-324, or another state's Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by or on behalf of the minor on whose behalf the account was opened 3 years after the later of:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the date a second consecutive communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the custodian of the minor on whose behalf the account was opened is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service;

(2) If the second communication is sent later than 30 days after the date the first communication is returned undelivered, the date the first communication was returned undelivered; or

(3) The date on which the custodian is required to transfer the property to the minor or the minor's estate in accordance with the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act of the state in which the account was opened.

(b) If the holder does not send communications to the custodian of the minor on whose behalf an account described in subsection (a) of this section was opened by first-class United States mail, the holder shall attempt to confirm the custodian's interest in the property by sending the custodian an electronic-mail communication not later than 2 years after the custodian's last indication of interest in the property. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the custodian by first-class United States mail if:

(1) The holder does not have information needed to send the custodian an electronic mail communication or the holder believes that the custodian's electronic-mail-mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) The holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) The custodian does not respond to the electronic-mail communication not later than 30 days after the communication was sent.

(c) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (b) of this section is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service, the property is presumed abandoned 3 years after the later of:

(1) The date a second consecutive communication to contact the custodian by first-class United States mail is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(2) The date established by subsection (a)(3) of this section.

(d) When the property in the account described in subsection (a) of this section is transferred to the minor on whose behalf an account was opened or to the minor's estate, the property in the account is no longer subject to this section.

§ 41–152.05. When contents of safe-deposit box presumed abandoned.

Tangible property held in a safe-deposit box and proceeds from a sale of the property by the holder permitted by law of the District other than this chapter are presumed abandoned if the property remains unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the earlier of the:

(1) Expiration of the lease or rental period for the box; or

(2) Earliest date when the lessor of the box is authorized by law of the District other than this chapter to enter the box and remove or dispose of the contents without consent or authorization of the lessee.

§ 41–152.06. When stored-value card presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to § 41-152.10, the net card value of a stored-value card, other than a payroll card or a gift card, is presumed abandoned on the latest of 3 years after:

(1) December 31 of the year in which the card is issued or additional funds are deposited into it;

(2) The most recent indication of interest in the card by the apparent owner; or

(3) A verification or review of the balance by or on behalf of the apparent owner.

(b) The amount presumed abandoned in a stored-value card is the net card value at the time it is presumed abandoned.

§ 41–152.07. When gift card presumed abandoned.

Subject to § 41-152.10, a gift card is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 5 years after the later of the date of purchase or its most recent use.

§ 41–152.08. When security presumed abandoned.

(a) Subject to § 41-152.10, a security is presumed abandoned 3 years after:

(1) The date a second consecutive communication sent by the holder by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service; or

(2) If the second communication is made later than 30 days after the first communication is returned, the date the first communication is returned undelivered to the holder by the United States Postal Service.

(b) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of a security by first-class United States mail, the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent owner's interest in the security by sending the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication not later than 2 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the security. However, the holder promptly shall attempt to contact the apparent owner by first-class United States mail if:

(1) The holder does not have information needed to send the apparent owner an electronic-mail communication or the holder believes that the apparent owner's electronic-mail address in the holder's records is not valid;

(2) The holder receives notification that the electronic-mail communication was not received; or

(3) The apparent owner does not respond to the electronic-mail communication not later 30 days after the communication was sent.

(c) If first-class United States mail sent under subsection (b) of this section is returned to the holder undelivered by the United States Postal Service, the security is presumed abandoned 3 years after the date the mail is returned.

§ 41–152.09. When related property presumed abandoned.

At and after the time property is presumed abandoned under this chapter, any other property right or interest accrued or accruing from the property and not previously presumed abandoned is also presumed abandoned.

§ 41–152.10. Indication of apparent owner interest in property.

(a) The period after which property is presumed abandoned is measured from the later of:

(1) The date the property is presumed abandoned under this subchapter; or

(2) The latest indication of interest by the apparent owner in the property.

(b) Under this chapter, an indication of an apparent owner's interest in property includes:

(1) A record communicated by the apparent owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held;

(2) An oral communication by the apparent owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the property is held, if the holder or its agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the fact of the apparent owner's communication;

(3) Presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend, interest payment, or other distribution, or evidence of receipt of a distribution made by electronic or similar means, with respect to an account, underlying security, or interest in a business association;

(4) Activity directed by an apparent owner in the account in which the property is held, including accessing the account or information concerning the account, or a direction by the apparent owner to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the amount or type of property held in the account;

(5) A deposit into or withdrawal from an account at a financial organization, including an automatic deposit or withdrawal previously authorized by the apparent owner other than an automatic reinvestment of dividends or interest;

(6) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, payment of a premium on an insurance policy; and

(7) Any other action by the apparent owner that reasonably demonstrates to the holder that the apparent owner knows that the property exists.

(c) An action by an agent or other representative of an apparent owner, other than the holder acting as the apparent owner's agent, is presumed to be an action on behalf of the apparent owner.

(d) A communication with an apparent owner by a person other than the holder or the holder's representative is not an indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner unless a record of the communication evidences the apparent owner's knowledge of a right to the property.

(e) If the insured dies or the insured or beneficiary of an insurance policy otherwise becomes entitled to the proceeds before depletion of the cash surrender value of the policy by operation of an automatic-premium-loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision contained in the policy, the operation does not prevent the policy from maturing or terminating.

§ 41–152.11. Knowledge of death of insured or annuitant.

(a) In this section, "death master file" means the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File or other database or service that is at least as comprehensive as the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File for determining that an individual reportedly has died.

(b) With respect to a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death, but which has not matured by proof of death of the insured or annuitant, the company has knowledge of the death of an insured or annuitant when:

(1) The company receives a death certificate or court order determining that the insured or annuitant has died;

(2) Due diligence, performed as required under § 31-4731, to maintain contact with the insured or annuitant or determine whether the insured or annuitant has died validates the death of the insured or annuitant;

(3) The company conducts a comparison for any purpose between a death master file and the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died, and validates the death;

(4) The Administrator or the Administrator's agent conducts a comparison for the purpose of finding matches during an examination conducted under subchapter X of this chapter between a death master file and the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died, and the company validates the death; or

(5) The company:

(A) Receives notice of the death of the insured or annuitant from an administrator, beneficiary, policy owner, relative of the insured, or trustee or from a personal representative or other legal representative of the insured's or annuitant's estate; and

(B) Validates the death of the insured or annuitant.

(1) A death-master-file match under subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section occurs if the criteria for an exact or partial match are satisfied as provided by:

(A) [Section 41-165.04]; or

(B) A rule or policy adopted by the Mayor under § 31-4728, or a policy of the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking.

(2) The death-master-file match does not constitute proof of death for the purpose of submission to an insurance company of a claim by a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract for an amount due under an insurance policy or annuity contract.

(3) The death-master-file match or validation of the insured's or annuitant's death does not alter the requirements for a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract to make a claim to receive proceeds under the terms of the policy or contract.

(d) This chapter does not affect the determination of the extent to which an insurance company before the November 13, 2021, had knowledge of the death of an insured or annuitant or was required to conduct a death-master-file comparison to determine whether amounts owed by the company on a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract were presumed abandoned or unclaimed.

§ 41–152.12. Deposit account for proceeds of insurance policy or annuity contract.

If proceeds payable under a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract are deposited into an account with check or draft-writing privileges for the beneficiary of the policy or contract and, under a supplementary contract not involving annuity benefits other than death benefits, the proceeds are retained by the insurance company or the financial organization where the account is held, the policy or contract includes the assets in the account.

Subchapter III. Rules for Taking Custody of Property Presumed Abandoned.

§ 41–153.01. Address of apparent owner to establish priority.

In this subchapter, the following rules apply:

(1) The last-known address of an apparent owner is any description, code, or other indication of the location of the apparent owner that identifies the state, even if the description, code, or indication of location is not sufficient to direct the delivery of first-class United States mail to the apparent owner.

(2) If the United States postal zip code associated with the apparent owner is for a post office located in the District, the District is deemed to be the state of the last-known address of the apparent owner unless other records associated with the apparent owner specifically identify the physical address of the apparent owner to be in another state.

(3) If the address under paragraph (2) of this subsection is in another state, the other state is deemed to be the state of the last-known address of the apparent owner.

(4) The address of the apparent owner of a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract or its proceeds is presumed to be the address of the insured or annuitant if a person other than the insured or annuitant is entitled to the amount owed under the policy or contract and the address of the other person is not known by the insurance company and cannot be determined under § 41-153.02.

§ 41–153.02. Address of apparent owner in the District.

The Administrator may take custody of property that is presumed abandoned, whether located in the District, another state, or a foreign country if:

(1) The last-known address of the apparent owner in the records of the holder is in the District; or

(2) The records of the holder do not reflect the identity or last-known address of the apparent owner, but the Administrator has determined that the last-known address of the apparent owner is in the District.

§ 41–153.03. If records show multiple addresses of apparent owner.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, if records of a holder reflect multiple addresses for an apparent owner and the District is the state of the most recently recorded address, the District may take custody of property presumed abandoned, whether located in the District or another jurisdiction.

(b) If it appears from records of the holder that the most recently recorded address of the apparent owner under subsection (a) of this section is a temporary address and the District is the jurisdiction of the next most recently recorded address that is not a temporary address, the District may take custody of the property presumed abandoned.

§ 41–153.04. Holder domiciled in the District.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section or § 41-153.02 or § 41-153.03, the Administrator may take custody of property presumed abandoned, whether located in the District, another state, or a foreign country, if the holder is domiciled in the District or is the District or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the District; and:

(1) Another state or foreign country is not entitled to the property because there is no last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property in the records of the holder; or

(2) The state or foreign country of the last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property does not provide for custodial taking of the property.

(b) Property is not subject to custody of the Administrator under subsection (a) of this section if the property is specifically exempt from custodial taking under the law of the District or the state or foreign country of the last-known address of the apparent owner.

(c) If a holder's state of domicile has changed since the time property was presumed abandoned, the holder's state of domicile in this section is deemed to be the state where the holder was domiciled at the time the property was presumed abandoned.

§ 41–153.05. Custody if transaction took place in the District.

Except as otherwise provided in § 41-153.02, § 41-153.03, or § 41-153.04, the Administrator may take custody of property presumed abandoned whether located in the District or another state if:

(1) The transaction out of which the property arose took place in the District;

(2) The holder is domiciled in a state that does not provide for the custodial taking of the property, except that if the property is specifically exempt from custodial taking under the law of the state of the holder's domicile, the property is not subject to the custody of the Administrator; and

(3) The last-known address of the apparent owner or other person entitled to the property is unknown or in a state that does not provide for the custodial taking of the property, except that if the property is specifically exempt from custodial taking under the law of the state of the last-known address, the property is not subject to the custody of the Administrator.

§ 41–153.06. Traveler's check, money order, or similar instrument.

The Administrator may take custody of sums payable on a traveler's check, money order, or similar instrument presumed abandoned to the extent permissible under sections 601 through 603 of An Act To increase deposit insurance from $20,000 to $40,000, to provide full insurance for public unit deposits of $100,000 per account, to establish a National Commission on Electronic Fund Transfers, and for other purposes, approved October 28, 1974 (88 Stat. 1525; 12 U.S.C. §§ 2501-2503).

§ 41–153.07. Burden of proof to establish Administrator's right to custody.

If the Administrator asserts a right to custody of unclaimed property, the Administrator has the burden to prove:

(1) The existence and amount of the property;

(2) That the property is presumed abandoned; and

(3) That the property is subject to the custody of the Administrator.

Subchapter IV. Report by Holder.

§ 41–154.01. Report required by holder.

(a) A holder of property presumed abandoned and subject to the custody of the Administrator shall report in a record to the Administrator concerning the property. The Administrator may not require a holder to file a paper report.

(b) A holder may contract with a third party to make the report required under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Whether or not a holder contracts with a third party under subsection (b) of this section, the holder is responsible:

(1) For the complete, accurate, and timely reporting of property presumed abandoned to the Administrator; and

(2) For paying or delivering to the Administrator property described in the report.

§ 41–154.02. Content of report.

(a) The report required under § 41-154.01 shall:

(1) Be signed by or on behalf of the holder and verified as to its completeness and accuracy;

(2) If filed electronically, be in a secure format approved by the Administrator that protects confidential information of the apparent owner in the same manner as required of the Administrator and the Administrator's agent under subchapter XIV of this chapter;

(3) Describe the property;

(4) Except for a traveler's check, money order, or similar instrument, contain the name, if known, last-known address, if known, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number, if known or readily ascertainable, of the apparent owner of property with a value of $50 or more;

(5) For an amount held or owing under a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, contain the name and last-known address of the insured, annuitant or other apparent owner of the policy or contract and of the beneficiary;

(6) For property held in or removed from a safe-deposit box, indicate the location of the property, where it may be inspected by the Administrator, and any amounts owed to the holder under § 41-156.06;

(7) Contain the commencement date for determining abandonment under subchapter II of this chapter;

(8) State that the holder has complied with the notice requirements of § 41-155.01;

(9) Identify property that is a non-freely transferable security and explain why it is a non-freely transferable security; and

(10) Contain other information the Administrator prescribes by rules.

(b) A report under § 41-154.01 may include personal information as defined in § 41-164.01(a) about the apparent owner or the apparent owner's property to the extent not otherwise prohibited by federal law.

(c) If a holder has changed its name while holding property presumed abandoned or is a successor to another person that previously held the property for the apparent owner, the holder shall include in the report under § 41-154.01 its former name or the name of the previous holder, if any, and the known name and address of each previous holder of the property.

§ 41–154.03. When report to be filed.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section and subject to subsection (c) of this section, the report under § 41-154.01 shall be filed before November 1 of each year and cover the 12 months preceding July 1 of that year.

(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the report under § 41-154.01 to be filed by an insurance company shall be filed before May 1 of each year for the immediately preceding calendar year.

(c) Before the date for filing the report under § 41-154.01, the holder of property presumed abandoned may request the Administrator to extend the time for filing. The Administrator may grant an extension. If the extension is granted, the holder may pay or make a partial payment of the amount the holder estimates ultimately will be due. The payment or partial payment terminates accrual of interest on the amount paid.

§ 41–154.04. Retention of records by holder.

A holder required to file a report under § 41-154.01 shall retain records for 10 years after the later of the date the report was filed or the last date a timely report was due to be filed, unless a shorter period is provided by rule of the Administrator. The holder may satisfy the requirement to retain records under this section through an agent. The records shall contain:

(1) The information required to be included in the report;

(2) The date, place, and nature of the circumstances that gave rise to the property right;

(3) The amount or value of the property;

(4) The last address of the apparent owner, if known to the holder; and

(5) If the holder sells, issues, or provides to others for sale or issue in the District traveler's checks, money orders, or similar instruments, other than third-party bank checks, on which the holder is directly liable, a record of the instruments while they remain outstanding indicating the state and date of issue.

§ 41–154.05. Property reportable and payable or deliverable absent owner demand.

Property is reportable and payable or deliverable under this chapter even if the owner fails to make demand or present an instrument or document otherwise required to obtain payment.

Subchapter V. Notice to Apparent Owner of Property Presumed Abandoned.

§ 41–155.01. Notice to apparent owner by holder.

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the holder of property presumed abandoned shall send to the apparent owner notice by first-class United States mail that complies with § 41-155.02 in a format acceptable to the Administrator not more than 180 days nor less than 60 days before filing the report under § 41-154.01 if:

(1) The holder has in its records an address for the apparent owner which the holder's records do not disclose to be invalid and is sufficient to direct the delivery of first-class United States mail to the apparent owner; and

(2) The value of the property is $50 or more.

(b) If an apparent owner has consented to receive electronic-mail delivery from the holder, the holder shall send the notice described in subsection (a) of this section both by first-class United States mail to the apparent owner's last-known mailing address and by electronic mail, unless the holder believes that the apparent owner's electronic-mail address is invalid.

§ 41–155.02. Contents of notice by holder.

(a) Notice under § 41-155.01 shall contain a heading that reads substantially as follows:

"Notice. The District of Columbia requires us to notify you that your property may be transferred to the custody of the District of Columbia's Unclaimed Property Administrator if you do not contact us before (insert date that is 30 days after the date of this notice).".

(b) The notice under § 41-155.01 shall:

(1) Identify the nature and, except for property that does not have a fixed value, the value of the property that is the subject of the notice;

(2) State that the property will be turned over to the Administrator;

(3) State that after the property is turned over to the Administrator an apparent owner that seeks return of the property must file a claim with the Administrator;

(4) State that property that is not legal tender of the United States may be sold by the Administrator; and

(5) Provide instructions that the apparent owner must follow to prevent the holder from reporting and paying or delivering the property to the Administrator.

§ 41–155.03. Notice by Administrator.

(a) The Administrator shall make a reasonable effort to give notice to an apparent owner that property of the owner that is presumed to be abandoned is held by the Administrator under this chapter. The Administrator shall use available resources, including information services, to ascertain the mailing address of an apparent owner.

(b) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, send written notice by first-class United States mail to each apparent owner of property valued at $50 or more held by the Administrator, unless the Administrator determines that a mailing by first-class United States mail would not be received by the apparent owner, and, in the case of a security held in an account for which the apparent owner had consented to receiving electronic mail from the holder, send notice by electronic mail if the electronic-mail address of the apparent owner is known to the Administrator instead of by first-class United States mail; or

(2) Send the notice to the apparent owner's electronic-mail address if the Administrator does not have a valid United States mail address for an apparent owner, but has an electronic-mail address that the Administrator does not know to be invalid.

(1) Publish every 6 months in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the District a notice with the following information:

(A) The total value of property received by the Administrator during the preceding 6-month period, taken from the reports under § 41-154.01;

(B) The total value of claims paid by the Administrator during the preceding 6-month period;

(D) A telephone number and electronic-mail address to contact the Administrator to inquire about or claim property; and

(E) A statement that a person may access the Internet by a computer to search for unclaimed property and a computer may be available as a service to the public at a local public library; and

(2) Maintain a website or database accessible by the public and electronically searchable, which contains the names reported to the Administrator of all apparent owners for whom property is being held by the Administrator.

(d) The website or database maintained under subsection (c) of this section must include instructions for filing with the Administrator a claim to property and a printable claim form with instructions for its use.

(e) In addition to giving notice under subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Administrator may use other printed publication, telecommunication, the Internet, or other media to inform the public of the existence of unclaimed property held by the Administrator.

§ 41–155.04. Cooperation among District officers and agencies to locate apparent owner.

Unless prohibited by law of the District other than this chapter, on request of the Administrator, each officer, agency, board, commission, division, and department of the District and any body politic and corporate created by the District for a public purpose shall make its books and records available to the Administrator and cooperate with the Administrator to determine the current address of an apparent owner of property held by the Administrator under this chapter.

Subchapter VI. Taking Custody of Property by Administrator.

§ 41–156.01. Definition of good faith.

In this subchapter, payment or delivery of property is made in good faith if a holder:

(1) Had a reasonable basis for believing, based on the facts then known, that the property was required or permitted to be paid or delivered to the Administrator under this chapter; or

(2) Made payment or delivery:

(A) In response to a demand by the Administrator or Administrator's agent; or

(B) Under a guidance or ruling issued by the Administrator which the holder reasonably believed required or permitted the property to be paid or delivered.

§ 41–156.02. Dormancy charge.

(a) A holder may deduct a dormancy charge from property required to be paid or delivered to the Administrator if:

(1) A valid contract between the holder and the apparent owner authorizes imposition of the charge for the apparent owner's failure to claim the property within a specified time; and

(2) The holder regularly imposes the charge and regularly does not reverse or otherwise cancel the charge.

(b) The amount of the deduction under subsection (a) of this section is limited to an amount that is not unconscionable considering all relevant factors, including the marginal transactional costs incurred by the holder in maintaining the apparent owner's property and any services received by the apparent owner. A deduction of $10 a year for maintaining property valued at $50 or less, or $20 a year for maintaining property valued at more than $50, or other amounts established by the Administrator by rule, is not unconscionable, although a higher charge, if permitted under subsection (a) of this section, may be proper considering all relevant factors.

§ 41–156.03. Payment or delivery of property to Administrator.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, on filing a report under § 41-154.01, the holder shall pay or deliver to the Administrator the property described in the report.

(b) If property in a report under § 41-154.01 is an automatically renewable deposit and a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of interest would result from paying the deposit to the Administrator at the time of the report, the date for payment of the property to the Administrator is extended until a penalty or forfeiture no longer would result from payment, if the holder informs the Administrator of the extended date.

(c) Tangible property in a safe-deposit box may not be delivered to the Administrator until 120 days after filing the report under § 41-154.01.

(d) If property reported to the Administrator under § 41-154.01 is a security, the Administrator may:

(1) Make an endorsement, instruction, or entitlement order on behalf of the apparent owner to invoke the duty of the issuer, its transfer agent, or the securities intermediary to transfer the security; or

(2) Dispose of the security under § 41-157.02.

(e) If the holder of property reported to the Administrator under § 41-154.01 is the issuer of a certificated security, the Administrator may obtain a replacement certificate in physical or book-entry form under § 28:8-405. An indemnity bond is not required.

(f) The Administrator shall establish procedures for the registration, issuance, method of delivery, transfer, and maintenance of securities delivered to the Administrator by a holder.

(g) An issuer, holder, and transfer agent or other person acting under this section under instructions of and on behalf of the issuer or holder is not liable to the apparent owner for, and shall be paid by the Administrator for the value of the property turned over to the Administrator by the District against, a claim arising with respect to property after the property has been delivered to the Administrator.

(h) A holder is not required to deliver to the Administrator a security identified by the holder as a non-freely transferable security. If the Administrator or holder determines that a security is no longer a non-freely transferable security, the holder shall deliver the security on the next regular date prescribed for delivery of securities under this chapter. The holder shall make a determination annually whether a security identified in a report filed under § 41-154.01 as a non-freely transferable security is no longer a non-freely transferable security.

§ 41–156.04. Effect of payment or delivery of property to Administrator.

(a) On payment or delivery of property to the Administrator under this chapter, the Administrator as agent for the District assumes custody and responsibility for safekeeping the property. A holder that pays or delivers property to the Administrator in good faith and substantially complies with §§ 41-155.01 and 41-155.02 is relieved of liability arising thereafter with respect to payment or delivery of the property to the Administrator.

(b) A holder is not liable for a claim against the holder resulting from the payment or delivery of property to the Administrator made in good faith and after the holder substantially complied with §§ 41-155.01 and 41-155.02.

§ 41–156.05. Recovery of property by holder from Administrator.

(a) A holder that under this chapter pays money to the Administrator may file a claim for reimbursement from the Administrator of the amount paid if the holder:

(1) Paid the money in error; or

(2) After paying the money to the Administrator, paid money to a person the holder reasonably believed entitled to the money.

(b) If a claim for reimbursement under subsection (a) of this section is made for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler's check, money order, or similar instrument, the holder shall submit proof that the instrument was presented and payment was made to a person the holder reasonably believed entitled to payment. The holder may claim reimbursement even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was made after expiration of a period of limitation on the owner's right to receive or recover property, whether specified by contract, statute, or court order.

(c) If a holder is reimbursed by the Administrator under subsection (a)(2) of this section, the holder may also recover from the Administrator income or gain under § 41-156.07 that would have been paid to the owner if the money had been claimed from the Administrator by the owner to the extent the income or gain was paid by the holder to the owner.

(d) A holder that under this chapter delivers property other than money to the Administrator may file a claim for return of the property from the Administrator if:

(1) The holder delivered the property in error; or

(2) The apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder.

(e) If a claim for return of property under subsection (d) of this section is made, the holder shall include with the claim evidence sufficient to establish that the apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder or that the property was delivered by the holder to the Administrator in error.

(f) The Administrator may determine that an affidavit submitted by a holder is evidence sufficient to establish that the holder is entitled to reimbursement or to recover property under this section.

(g) A holder is not required to pay a fee or other charge for reimbursement or return of property under this section.

(h) Not later than 90 days after a claim is filed under subsection (a) or (d) of this section, the Administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice of the decision in a record. If the Administrator does not take action on a claim during the 90-day period, the claim is deemed denied.

(i) The claimant may bring an action in the Superior Court for review of the Administrator's decision or the deemed denial under subsection (h) of this section not later than:

(1) 30 days following receipt of the notice of the Administrator's decision; or

(2) 120 days following the filing of a claim under subsection (a) or (d) of this section in the case of a deemed denial under subsection (h) of this section.

(j) A final decision in an action brought under subsection (i) of this section is subject to review by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

§ 41–156.06. Property removed from safe-deposit box.

(a) Property removed from a safe-deposit box and delivered under this chapter to the Administrator under this chapter is subject to the holder's right to reimbursement for the cost of opening the box and a lien or contract providing reimbursement to the holder for unpaid rent charges for the box, provided that the holder makes a request under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The Administrator shall reimburse the holder from the proceeds remaining after deducting the expense incurred by the Administrator in selling the property, if the holder makes a request for reimbursement after property from the safe deposit box is delivered to the Administrator.

§ 41–156.07. Crediting income or gain to owner's account.

(a) If property other than money is delivered to the Administrator, the owner is entitled to receive from the Administrator income or gain realized or accrued on the property before the property is sold. If the property is an interest-bearing demand, savings, or time deposit that continues to earn interest after delivery to the Administrator, the owner is entitled to that interest before the property is sold. Interest begins to accrue when the property is delivered to the Administrator and ends on the earlier of the expiration of 10 years after its delivery or the date on which payment is made to the owner.

(b) Interest on interest-bearing property is not payable under this section for any period before November 13,2021, unless authorized by § 41-121 [repealed].

§ 41–156.08. Administrator's options as to custody.

(a) The Administrator may decline to take custody of property reported under § 41-154.01 if the Administrator determines that:

(1) The property has a value less than the estimated expenses of notice and sale of the property; or

(2) Taking custody of the property would be unlawful.

(b) A holder may pay or deliver property to the Administrator before the property is presumed abandoned under this chapter if the holder:

(1) Sends the apparent owner of the property notice required by § 41-155.01 and provides the Administrator evidence of the holder's compliance with this paragraph;

(2) Includes with the payment or delivery a report regarding the property conforming to § 41-154.02; and

(3) First obtains the Administrator's consent in a record to accept payment or delivery.

(c) A holder's request for the Administrator's consent under subsection (b)(3) of this section shall be in a record. If the Administrator fails to respond to the request not later than 30 days after receipt of the request, the Administrator is deemed to consent to the payment or delivery of the property and the payment or delivery is considered to have been made in good faith.

(d) On payment or delivery of property under subsection (b) of this section, the property is presumed abandoned.

§ 41–156.09. Disposition of property having no substantial value; immunity from liability.

(a) If the Administrator takes custody of property delivered under this chapter and later determines that the property has no substantial commercial value or that the cost of disposing of the property will exceed the value of the property, the Administrator may return the property to the holder or destroy or otherwise dispose of the property.

(b) An action or proceeding may not be commenced against the District, an agency of the District, the Administrator, another officer, employee, or agent of the District, or a holder for or because of an act of the Administrator under this section, except for intentional misconduct or malfeasance.

§ 41–156.10. Periods of limitation and repose.

(a) Expiration, before, on, or after November 13, 2021, of a period of limitation on an owner's right to receive or recover property, whether specified by contract, statute, or court order, does not prevent the property from being presumed abandoned or affect the duty of a holder under this chapter to file a report or pay or deliver property to the Administrator.

(b) The Administrator may not commence an action or proceeding to enforce this chapter with respect to the reporting, payment, or delivery of property more than 10 years after the holder filed a non-fraudulent report under § 41-154.01 with the Administrator. The parties may agree in a record to extend the limitation in this subsection.

(c) The Administrator may not commence an action, proceeding, or examination with respect to a duty of a holder under this chapter more than 10 years after the duty arose.

Subchapter VII. Sale of Property by Administrator.

§ 41–157.01. Public sale of property.

(a) Subject to § 41-157.02, not earlier than one year after receipt of property presumed abandoned, the Administrator may sell the property.

(b) Before selling property under subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall give notice to the public of:

(1) The date of the sale; and

(2) A reasonable description of the property.

(1) At public sale at a location in the District which the Administrator determines to be the most favorable market for the property;

(2) On the Internet; or

(3) On another forum the Administrator determines is likely to yield the highest net proceeds of sale.

(d) The Administrator may decline the highest bid at a sale under this section and reoffer the property for sale if the Administrator determines the highest bid is insufficient.

(e) If a sale held under this section is to be conducted other than on the Internet, the Administrator shall publish at least one notice of the sale, at least 3 weeks but not more than 5 weeks before the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the District of Columbia.

§ 41–157.02. Disposal of securities.

(a) The Administrator may not sell or otherwise liquidate a security until 60 days after the Administrator receives the security and gives the apparent owner notice under § 41-155.03 that the Administrator holds the security.

(b) The Administrator may not sell a security listed on an established stock exchange for less than the price prevailing on the exchange at the time of sale. The Administrator may sell a security not listed on an established exchange by any commercially-reasonable method.

§ 41–157.03. Recovery of securities or value by owner.

(a) If the Administrator sells a security before the expiration of 60 days after delivery of the security to the Administrator, an apparent owner that files a valid claim under this chapter of ownership of the security before the 60-day period expires is entitled, at the option of the Administrator, to receive:

(1) Replacement of the security; or

(2) The market value of the security at the time the claim is filed, plus dividends, interest, and other increments on the security up to the time the claim is paid.

(b) Replacement of the security or calculation of market value under subsection (a) of this section shall take into account a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, or similar corporate action.

(c) A person that makes a valid claim under this chapter of ownership of a security after expiration of 60 days after delivery of the security to the Administrator is entitled to receive:

(1) The security the holder delivered to the Administrator, if it is in the custody of the Administrator, plus dividends, interest, and other increments on the security up to the time the Administrator delivers the security to the person; or

(2) The net proceeds of the sale of the security, plus dividends, interest, and other increments on the security up to the time the security was sold.

§ 41–157.04. Purchaser owns property after sale.

A purchaser of property at a sale conducted by the Administrator under this chapter takes the property free of all claims of the owner, a previous holder, or a person claiming through the owner or holder. The Administrator shall execute documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership to the purchaser.

§ 41–157.05. Military medal or decoration.

(a) The Administrator may not sell a medal or decoration awarded for military service in the armed forces of the United States.

(b) The Administrator, with the consent of the respective organization under paragraph (1) of this subsection, agency under paragraph (2) of this subsection, or entity under paragraph (3) of this subsection, may deliver a medal or decoration described in subsection (a) of this section to be held in custody for the owner, to:

(1) A military veterans organization qualified under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, approved August 16, 1954 (68A Stat. 163; 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(19));

(2) The agency that awarded the medal or decoration; or

(3) A governmental entity.

(c) On delivery under subsection (b) of this section, the Administrator is not responsible for safekeeping the medal or decoration.

Subchapter VIII. Administration of Property.

§ 41–158.01. Deposit of funds by Administrator.

(a) The Administrator shall deposit all funds received under this chapter, including proceeds from the sale of property under subchapter VII of this chapter, into an account in the General Fund designated the Unclaimed Property Account. For each fiscal year, the Administrator shall designate an amount in the Unclaimed Property Account to be held for the payment of claims that reflects the Administrator's reasonable estimate of the value of claims that will be asserted under this chapter during the fiscal year. Funds in the Unclaimed Property Account that exceed this designated amount may be used to pay the costs of administering the unclaimed property program established in this chapter and to satisfy the District's cash flow needs during the fiscal year.

(b) All assets, liabilities, and unexpended balances of funds in the trust fund created by § 41-123, shall be transferred to the Unclaimed Property Account established under subsection (a) of this section on the October 1, 2021.

§ 41–158.02. Administrator to retain records of property.

The Administrator shall:

(1) Record and retain the name and last-known address of each person shown on a report filed under § 41-154.01 to be the apparent owner of property delivered to the Administrator;

(2) Record and retain the name and last-known address 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 and retain the policy or account number, the name of the company, and the amount due or paid; and

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

§ 41–158.03. Expenses and service charges of Administrator.

Before making a deposit of funds received under this chapter to the General Fund of the District, the Administrator may deduct:

(1) Expenses of disposition of property delivered to the Administrator under this chapter;

(2) Costs of mailing and publication in connection with property delivered to the Administrator under this chapter;

(3) Reasonable service charges; and

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

§ 41–158.04. Administrator holds property as custodian for owner.

Property received by the Administrator under this chapter is held in custody for the benefit of the owner and is not owned by the District.

Subchapter IX. Claim to Recover Property from Administrator.

§ 41–159.01. Claim of another state to recover property.

(a) 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:

(1) Report and pay or deliver the property to the other state; or

(2) Return the property to the holder so that the holder may pay or deliver the property to the other state.

(b) The Administrator is not required to enter into an agreement to transfer property to the other state under subsection (a) of this section.

§ 41–159.02. When property subject to recovery by another state.

(a) Property held under this chapter by the Administrator is subject to the right of another state to take custody of the property if:

(1) 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:

(A) 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

(B) Under the law of the other state, the property has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment;

(2) 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;

(3) The property was subject to the custody of the Administrator of the District under § 41-153.05 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; or

(4) The property:

(A) 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 § 41-153.06; and

(B) Under the law of the other state, has become subject to a claim by the other state of abandonment.

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

(c) The Administrator shall decide a claim under this section not later than 90 days after it is presented. If the Administrator determines that the other state is entitled under subsection (a) of this section to custody of the property, the Administrator shall allow the claim and pay or deliver the property to the other state.

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

§ 41–159.03. Claim for property by person claiming to be owner.

(a) 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.

(b) The Administrator may waive the requirement in subsection (a) of this section and may pay or deliver property directly to a person if:

(1) The person receiving the property or payment is shown to be the apparent owner included on a report filed under § 41-154.01;

(2) The Administrator reasonably believes the person is entitled to receive the property or payment; and

(3) The property has a value of less than $500.

§ 41–159.04. When Administrator must honor claim for property.

(a) The Administrator shall pay or deliver property to a claimant under § 41-159.03(a) if the Administrator receives evidence sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the claimant is the owner of the property.

(b) Not later than 90 days after a claim is filed under § 41-159.03(a), the Administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice in a record of the decision.

(1) 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;

(2) The claimant may file an amended claim with the Administrator or commence an action under § 41-159.06; and

(3) The Administrator shall consider an amended claim filed under paragraph (2) of this subsection as an initial claim.

(d) If the Administrator does not take action on a claim during the 90-day period following the filing of a claim under § 41-159.03(a), the claim is deemed denied.

§ 41–159.05. Allowance of claim for property by the District.

(a) Not later than 45 days after a claim is allowed under § 41-159.04(b), the Administrator shall pay or deliver to the owner the property or pay to the owner the net proceeds of a sale of the property, together with income or gain to which the owner is entitled under § 41-156.07. On request of the owner, the Administrator may sell or liquidate a security and pay the net proceeds to the owner, even if the security had been held by the Administrator for less than 60 days or the Administrator has not complied with the notice requirements under § 41-157.02.

(b) Property held under this chapter by the Administrator is subject to a claim for the payment of an enforceable debt the owner owes to the District for:

(1) Child-support arrearages, including any child-support collection costs and child-support arrearages that are combined with maintenance;

(2) A civil or criminal fine or penalty, court costs, a surcharge, or restitution imposed by a final order of an administrative agency or a final court judgment; or

(3) District taxes, penalties, and interest that have been determined to be delinquent, including delinquent debts under subchapter XVII of Chapter 3 of Title 1, and collection fees owed to the Central Collection Unit under section 3800 of Title 9 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (9 DCMR § 3800).

(c) Before delivery or payment to an owner under subsection (a) of this section of property or payment to the owner of net proceeds of a sale of the property, the Administrator first shall apply the property or net proceeds to a debt under subsection (b) of this section the Administrator determines is owed by the owner. The Administrator shall pay the amount to the appropriate District agency and notify the owner of the payment, unless another District agency is required to notify the owner of the payment.

(d) The Administrator may make periodic inquiries of District agencies in the absence of a claim filed under § 41-159.03 to determine whether an apparent owner included in the unclaimed-property records of the District has an enforceable debt described in subsection (b) of this section. The Administrator first shall apply the property or net proceeds of a sale of property held by the Administrator to a debt under subsection (b) of this section of an apparent owner which appears in the records of the Administrator and deliver the amount to the appropriate District agency. The Administrator shall notify the apparent owner of the payment, unless another District agency is required to notify the owner of the payment.

§ 41–159.06. Action by person whose claim is denied.

Not later than one year after filing a claim under § 41-159.03(a), the claimant may commence an action against the Administrator in the Superior Court to establish a claim that has been denied or deemed denied under [§ 41-159.03].

Subchapter X. Verified Report of Property; Examination of Records.

§ 41–160.01. Verified report of property.

If a person does not file a report required by § 41-154.01 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. The verified report shall:

(1) State whether the person is holding property reportable under this chapter;

(2) Describe property not previously reported or about which the Administrator has inquired;

(3) Specifically identify property described under paragraph (2) of this section about which there is a dispute about whether it is reportable under this chapter; and

(4) State the amount or value of the property.

§ 41–160.02. Examination of records to determine compliance.

The Administrator, at reasonable times and on reasonable notice, may:

(1) Examine the records of a person, including examination of appropriate records in the possession of an agent of the person under examination, if the records are reasonably necessary to determine whether the person has complied with this chapter;

(2) Apply to the Superior Court for the issuance of a subpoena requiring the person or agent of the person to make records available for examination; and

(3) Request that the Attorney General bring an action seeking judicial enforcement of the subpoena.

§ 41–160.03. Rules for conducting examination.

(a) The Administrator shall adopt rules governing procedures and standards for an examination under § 41-160.02, including rules for use of an estimation, extrapolation, and statistical sampling in conducting an examination.

(b) An examination under § 41-160.02 shall be performed under rules adopted under subsection (a) of this section and with generally accepted examination practices and standards applicable to an unclaimed-property examination.

(c) If a person subject to examination under § 41-160.02 has filed the reports required under §§ 41-154.01 and 41-160.01 and has retained the records required by § 41-154.04, the following rules apply:

(1) The examination shall include a review of the person's records.

(2) The examination may not be based on an estimate unless the person expressly consents in a record to the use of an estimate.

(3) The person conducting the examination shall consider the evidence presented in good faith by the person in preparing the findings of the examination under § 41-160.07.

§ 41–160.04. Records obtained in examination.

Records obtained and records, including work papers, compiled by the Administrator in the course of conducting an examination under § 41-158.02:

(1) Are subject to the confidentiality and security provisions of subchapter XIV of this chapter and are not public records;

(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 United States, 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 subchapter XIV of this chapter;

(4) Shall be disclosed, on request, to the person that administers the unclaimed property law of another state 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 subchapter XIV of this chapter;

(5) Shall be produced by the Administrator under an administrative or judicial subpoena or administrative or court order; and

(6) Shall be produced by the Administrator on request of the person subject to the examination in an administrative or judicial proceeding relating to the property.

§ 41–160.05. Evidence of unpaid debt or undischarged obligation.

(a) A record of a putative holder showing an unpaid debt or undischarged obligation is prima facie evidence of the debt or obligation.

(b) A putative holder may establish by a preponderance of the evidence that there is no unpaid debt or undischarged obligation for a debt or obligation described in subsection (a) of this section or that the debt or obligation was not, or no longer is, a fixed and certain obligation of the putative holder.

(c) A putative holder may overcome prima facie evidence under subsection (a) of this section by establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that a check, draft, or similar instrument was:

(1) Issued as an unaccepted offer in settlement of an unliquidated amount;

(2) Issued but later was replaced with another instrument because the earlier instrument was lost or contained an error that was corrected;

(3) Issued to a party affiliated with the issuer;

(4) Paid, satisfied, or discharged;

(5) Issued in error;

(6) Issued without consideration;

(7) Issued but there was a failure of consideration;

(8) Voided not later than 90 days after issuance for a valid business reason set forth in a contemporaneous record; or

(9) Issued but not delivered to the third-party payee for a sufficient reason recorded within a reasonable time after issuance.

(d) In asserting a defense under this section, a putative holder may present evidence of a course of dealing between the putative holder and the apparent owner or of custom and practice.

§ 41–160.06. Failure of person examined to retain records.

If a person subject to examination under § 41-160.02 does not retain the records required by § 41-154.04, the Administrator may determine the value of property due using a reasonable method of estimation based on all information available to the Administrator, including extrapolation and use of statistical sampling when appropriate and necessary, consistent with examination procedures and standards adopted under § 41-160.03(a) and in accord with § 41-160.03(b).

§ 41–160.07. Report to person whose records were examined.

At the conclusion of an examination under § 41-160.02, the Administrator shall provide to the person whose records were examined a complete and unredacted examination report that specifies:

(1) The work performed;

(2) The property types reviewed;

(3) The methodology of any estimation technique, extrapolation, or statistical sampling used in conducting the examination;

(4) Each calculation showing the value of property determined to be due; and

(5) The findings of the person conducting the examination.

§ 41–160.08. Complaint to Administrator about conduct of person conducting examination.

(a) If a person subject to examination under § 41-160.02 believes the person conducting the examination has made an unreasonable or unauthorized request or is not proceeding expeditiously to complete the examination, the person in a record may ask the Administrator to intervene and take appropriate remedial action, including countermanding the request of the person conducting the examination, imposing a time limit for completion of the examination, or reassigning the examination to another person.

(b) If a person in a record requests a conference with the Administrator to present matters that are the basis of a request under subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall hold the conference not later than 30 days after receiving the request. The Administrator may hold the conference in person, by telephone, or by electronic means.

(c) If a conference is held under subsection (b) of this section, not later than 30 days after the conference ends, the Administrator shall provide a report in a record of the conference to the person that requested the conference.

§ 41–160.09. Administrator's contract with another to conduct examination.

(a) In this section, "related to the Administrator" means an individual who is:

(1) The Administrator's spouse, partner in a civil union, domestic partner, or reciprocal beneficiary;

(2) The Administrator's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, sibling, step-sibling, half-sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew;

(3) A spouse, partner in a civil union, domestic partner, or reciprocal beneficiary of an individual under paragraph (2) of this subsection; or

(4) Any individual residing in the Administrator's household.

(b) The Administrator may contract with a person to conduct an examination under this subchapter.

(1) An individual, the individual may not be related to the Administrator; or

(2) A business entity, the entity may not be owned in whole or in part by the Administrator or an individual related to the Administrator.

(d) At least 60 days before assigning a person under contract with the Administrator under subsection (b) of this section to conduct an examination, the Administrator shall demand in a record that the person to be examined submit a report and deliver property that is previously unreported.

(e) If the Administrator contracts with a person under subsection (b) of this section:

(1) The contract may provide for compensation of the person based on a fixed fee, hourly fee, or contingent fee;

(2) A contingent fee arrangement may not provide for a payment that exceeds 10 percent of the amount or value of property paid or delivered as a result of the examination, except for contracts in force on November 13, 2021; and

(3) On request by a person subject to examination by a contractor, the Administrator shall deliver to the person a complete and unredacted copy of the contract and any contract between the contractor and a person employed or engaged by the contractor to conduct the examination.

(f) A contract under subsection (b) of this section is subject to public disclosure without redaction under subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2.

§ 41–160.10. Limit on future employment.

The Administrator or an individual employed by the Administrator who participates in, recommends, or approves the award of a contract under § 41-160.09(b) is subject to the Code of Conduct, or other ethical rules, applicable to employees in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer concerning post-employment conflicts of interest.

§ 41–160.11. Report by Administrator at request of Mayor.

(a) Pursuant to a request of the Mayor, the Administrator shall compile and submit a report containing information about property presumed abandoned for the preceding fiscal year for the District. The information requested may include:

(1) The total amount and value of all property paid or delivered under this chapter to the Administrator;

(2) The name of and amount paid to each contractor under § 41-160.09 and the percentage the total compensation paid to all contractors under § 41-160.09 bears to the total amount paid or delivered to the Administrator as a result of all examinations performed under § 41-160.09;

(3) The total amount and value of all property paid or delivered by the Administrator to persons that made claims for property held by the Administrator under this chapter and the percentage the total payments made and value of property delivered to claimants bears to the total amounts paid and value delivered to the Administrator; and

(4) The total amount of claims made by persons claiming to be owners.

(b) The report under subsection (a) of this section is a public record subject to public disclosure without redaction under subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 2.

Subchapter XI. Determination of Liability; Putative Holder Remedies.

§ 41–161.01. Determination of liability for unreported reportable property.

If the Administrator determines from an examination conducted under § 41-160.02 that a putative holder failed or refused to pay or deliver to the Administrator property that is reportable under this chapter, the Administrator shall issue a determination of the putative holder's liability to pay or deliver and give notice in a record to the putative holder of the determination.

§ 41–161.02. Informal conference.

(a) Not later than 30 days after receipt of a notice under § 41-161.01, the putative holder may request an informal conference with the Administrator to review the determination. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Administrator may designate an employee to act on behalf of the Administrator.

(b) If a putative holder makes a timely request under subsection (a) of this section for an informal conference:

(1) Not later than 20 days after the date of the request, the Administrator shall set the time and place of the conference;

(2) The Administrator shall give the putative holder notice in a record of the time and place of the conference;

(3) The conference may be held in person, by telephone, or by electronic means, as determined by the Administrator;

(4) The request tolls the 90-day period under § 41-161.03 until notice of a decision under paragraph (7) of this subsection has been given to the putative holder or the putative holder withdraws the request for the conference;

(5) The conference may be postponed, adjourned, and reconvened as the Administrator determines appropriate;

(6) The Administrator or Administrator's designee with the approval of the Administrator may modify a determination made under § 41-161.01 or withdraw it; and

(7) The Administrator shall issue a decision in a record and provide a copy of the record to the putative holder and examiner not later than 20 days after the conference ends.

(c) A conference under subsection (b) of this section is not an administrative remedy and is not a contested case subject to Chapter 5 of Title 2. An oath is not required and rules of evidence do not apply in the conference.

(d) At a conference under subsection (b) of this section, the putative holder shall be given an opportunity to confer informally with the Administrator and the person that examined the records of the putative holder to:

(1) Discuss the determination made under § 41-161.01; and

(2) Present any issue concerning the validity of the determination.

(e) If the Administrator fails to act within the period prescribed in subsection (b)(1) or (7) of this section, the failure does not affect a right of the Administrator, except that interest does not accrue on the amount for which the putative holder was determined to be liable under § 41-161.01 during the period in which the Administrator failed to act until the earlier of:

(1) The date the putative holder requests a hearing under § 41-161.03; or

(2) 90 days after the putative holder received notice of the Administrator's determination under § 41-161.01 if the putative holder did not request a hearing under § 41-161.03.

(f) The Administrator may hold an informal conference with a putative holder about a determination under § 41-161.01 without a request at any time before the putative holder requests a hearing under § 41-161.03.

(g) Interest and penalties under § 41-162.04 continue to accrue on property not reported, paid, or delivered as required by this chapter after the initiation, and during the pendency, of an informal conference under this section.

§ 41–161.03. Review of Administrator's determination.

(a) Not later than 90 days after receiving notice of the Administrator's determination under § 41-161.01, a putative holder may request a hearing on the Administrator's determination by the Office of Administrative Hearings, which shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and render a final order in accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 2.

(b) A final decision in a proceeding under subsection (a) of this section is subject to judicial review by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Subchapter XII. Enforcement.

§ 41–162.01. Judicial action to enforce liability.

(a) If a determination under § 41-161.01 becomes final and is not subject to administrative or judicial review, the Administrator may request that the Attorney General bring an action in the Superior Court or in an appropriate court of another state to enforce the determination and secure payment or delivery of past due, unpaid, or undelivered property. The action must be brought not later than one year after the determination becomes final.

(b) In an action under subsection (a) of this section, if no court in the District has jurisdiction over the defendant, the Attorney General may commence an action in any court having jurisdiction over the defendant.

§ 41–162.02. Interstate and international agreement; cooperation.

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Administrator may:

(1) Exchange information with another state or foreign country relating to property presumed abandoned or relating to the possible existence of property presumed abandoned; and

(2) Authorize in a record another state or foreign country or a person acting on behalf of the other state or country to examine its records of a putative holder as provided in subchapter X of this chapter.

(b) An exchange or examination under subsection (a) of this section may be done only if the state or foreign country has confidentiality and security requirements substantially equivalent to those in subchapter XIV of this chapter or agrees in a record to be bound by the District's confidentiality and security requirements.

§ 41–162.03. Action involving another state or foreign country.

(a) The Administrator may request that the Attorney General join another state or foreign country to examine and seek enforcement of this chapter against a putative holder.

(b) On request of another state or foreign country, the Attorney General may commence an action on behalf of the other state or country to enforce, in the District, the law of the other state or country against a putative holder subject to a claim by the other state or country, if the other state or country agrees to pay costs incurred by the Attorney General in the action.

(c) The Administrator may request the official authorized to enforce the unclaimed property law of another state or foreign country to commence an action to recover property in the other state or country on behalf of the Administrator.

(d) The Administrator may request that the Attorney General pursue an action on behalf of the District to recover property subject to this chapter but delivered to the custody of another state if the Administrator believes the property is subject to the custody of the Administrator.

(e) The Administrator, with the approval of the Attorney General, may retain an attorney in the District, another state, or a foreign country to commence an action to recover property on behalf of the Administrator and may agree to pay attorney's fees based in whole or in part on a fixed fee, hourly fee, or a percentage of the amount or value of property recovered in the action.

(f) Expenses incurred by the District in an action under this section may be paid from property received under this chapter or the net proceeds of the property subject to appropriations. Expenses paid to recover property may not be deducted from the amount that is subject to a claim under this chapter by the owner.

§ 41–162.04. Interest and penalty for failure to act in timely manner.

(a) A holder that fails to report, pay, or deliver property within the time prescribed by this chapter shall pay to the Administrator interest at 10% per year on the property or value of the property from the date the property should have been reported, paid, or delivered to the Administrator until the date reported, paid, or delivered.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 41-162.05 or § 41-162.06, the Administrator may require a holder that fails to report, pay, or deliver property within the time prescribed by this chapter to pay to the Administrator, in addition to interest included under subsection (a) of this section, a civil penalty of $200 for each day the duty is not performed, up to a cumulative maximum amount of $5,000.

§ 41–162.05. Other civil penalties.

(a) If a holder enters into a contract or other arrangement for the purpose of evading an obligation under this chapter or otherwise willfully fails to perform a duty imposed on the holder under this chapter, the Administrator may require the holder to pay the Administrator, in addition to interest as provided in § 41-162.04(a), a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the obligation is evaded or the duty is not performed, up to a cumulative maximum amount of $25,000, plus 25 percent of the amount or value of property that should have been but was not reported, paid, or delivered as a result of the evasion or failure to perform.

(b) If a holder makes a fraudulent report under this chapter, the Administrator may require the holder to pay to the Administrator, in addition to interest under § 41-162.04(a), a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day from the date the report was made until corrected, up to a cumulative maximum of $25,000, plus 25 percent of the amount or value of any property that should have been reported but was not included in the report or was underreported.

§ 41–162.06. Waiver of interest and penalty.

The Administrator:

(1) May waive, in whole or in part, interest under § 41-162.04(a) and penalties under § 41-162.04(b) or § 41-162.05; and

(2) Shall waive a penalty under § 41-162.04(b) if the Administrator determines that the holder acted in good faith and without negligence.

§ 41–162.07. Right to administrative hearing; entry of civil judgment by Superior Court.

(a) A holder is entitled to a hearing on the Administrator's imposition of a civil penalty or interest under § 41-162.04 or a civil penalty under § 41-162.05 by the Office of Administrative Hearings, which shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and render a final order in accordance with Chapter 5 of Title 2.

(b) The Administrator may cause a final order requiring a holder to pay a civil penalty, interest, or costs entered by the Office of Administrative Hearings under subsection (c) of this section as a judgment against the holder by requesting that the Attorney General file an action to enter the civil penalty, interest, or costs to as a civil judgment.

Subchapter XIII. Agreement to Locate Property of Apparent Owner Held by Administrator.

§ 41–163.01. When agreement to locate property enforceable.

An agreement by an apparent owner and another person, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the location, delivery, or recovery of property held by the Administrator, is enforceable only if the agreement:

(1) Is in a record that clearly states the nature of the property and the services to be provided;

(2) Is signed by or on behalf of the apparent owner; and

(3) States the amount or value of the property reasonably expected to be recovered, computed before and after a fee or other compensation to be paid to the person has been deducted.

§ 41–163.02. When agreement to locate property void.

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an agreement under § 41-163.01 is void if it is entered into during the period beginning on the date the property was paid or delivered by a holder to the Administrator and ending 24 months after the payment or delivery.

(b) If a provision in an agreement described in subsection (a) of this section applies to mineral proceeds for which compensation is to be paid to the other person based in whole or in part on a part of the underlying minerals or mineral proceeds not then presumed abandoned, the provision is void regardless of when the agreement was entered into.

(c) An agreement under subsection (a) of this section that provides for compensation in an amount that is unconscionable is unenforceable except by the apparent owner. An apparent owner that believes the compensation the apparent owner has agreed to pay is unconscionable may file an action in the Superior Court to reduce the compensation to the maximum amount that is not unconscionable.

(d) An apparent owner may assert that an agreement described in this section is void on a ground other than it provides for payment of unconscionable compensation.

(e) This section does not apply to an apparent owner's agreement with an attorney to pursue a claim for recovery of specifically identified property held by the Administrator or to contest the Administrator's denial of a claim for recovery of the property.

§ 41–163.03. Right of agent of apparent owner to recover property held by Administrator.

(a) An apparent owner that contracts with another person to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the location, delivery, or recovery of property of the apparent owner which is held by the Administrator may designate the person as the agent of the apparent owner. The designation must be in a record signed by the apparent owner.

(b) The Administrator shall give the agent of the apparent owner all information concerning the property that the apparent owner is entitled to receive, including information that otherwise is confidential information under § 41-164.02.

(c) If authorized by the apparent owner, the agent of the apparent owner may bring an action against the Administrator on behalf of and in the name of the apparent owner.

Subchapter XIV. Confidentiality and Security of Information.

§ 41–164.01. Definitions; applicability.

(a) In this subchapter, "personal information" means:

(1) Information that identifies or reasonably can be used to identify an individual, such as first and last name in combination with the individual's:

(A) Social security number or other government-issued number or identifier;

(B) Date of birth;

(D) Electronic-mail address or other online contact information or Internet provider address;

(E) Financial account number or credit or debit card number;

(F) Biometric data, health or medical data, or insurance information; or

(G) Passwords or other credentials that permit access to an online or other account;

(2) Personally identifiable financial or insurance information, including nonpublic personal information defined by applicable federal law; and

(3) Any combination of data that, if accessed, disclosed, modified, or destroyed without authorization of the owner of the data or if lost or misused, would require notice or reporting under §§ 28-3851 to 28-3864 and federal privacy and data security law, whether or not the Administrator or the Administrator's agent is subject to the law.

(b) A provision of this subchapter that applies to the Administrator or the Administrator's records applies to an Administrator's agent.

§ 41–164.02. Confidential information.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following are confidential and exempt from public inspection or disclosure:

(1) Records of the Administrator and the Administrator's agent related to the administration of this chapter;

(2) Reports and records of a holder in the possession of the Administrator or the Administrator's agent; and

(3) Personal information and other information derived or otherwise obtained by or communicated to the Administrator or the Administrator's agent from an examination under this chapter of the records of a person.

(b) A record or other information that is confidential under law of the District other than this chapter, another state, or the United States continues to be confidential when disclosed or delivered under this chapter to the Administrator or Administrator's agent.

§ 41–164.03. When confidential information may be disclosed.

(a) When reasonably necessary to enforce or implement this chapter, the Administrator may disclose confidential information concerning property held by the Administrator or the Administrator's agent only to:

(1) An apparent owner or the apparent owner's personal representative, attorney, other legal representative, relative, or agent designated under § 41-163.03 to have the information;

(2) The personal representative other legal representative, relative of a deceased apparent owner, agent designated under § 41-163.03 by the deceased apparent owner, or a person entitled to inherit from the deceased apparent owner;

(3) Another department or agency of the District or the United States;

(4) The person that administers the unclaimed property law of another state, if the other state accords substantially reciprocal privileges to the Administrator of the District if the other state is required to maintain the confidentiality and security of information obtained in a manner substantially equivalent to this subchapter; or

(5) A person subject to an examination as required by § 41-160.04(6).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 41-164.02(a), the Administrator shall include on the website or in the database required by § 41-155.03(c)(2) the name of each apparent owner of property held by the Administrator. The Administrator may include in published notices, printed publications, telecommunications, the Internet, or other media and on the website or in the database additional information concerning the apparent owner's property if the Administrator believes the information will assist in identifying and returning property to the owner and does not disclose personal information except the home or physical address of an apparent owner.

(c) The Administrator and the Administrator's agent may not use confidential information provided to them or in their possession except as expressly authorized by this chapter or required by law other than this chapter.

§ 41–164.04. Confidentiality agreement.

A person to be examined under § 41-160.02 may require, as a condition of disclosure of the records of the person to be examined, that each person having access to the records disclosed in the examination execute and deliver to the person to be examined a confidentiality agreement that:

(1) Is in a form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrator; and

(2) Requires the person having access to the records to comply with the provisions of this subchapter applicable to the person.

§ 41–164.05. No confidential information in notice.

Except as otherwise provided in §§ 41-155.01 and 41-155.02, a holder is not required under this chapter to include confidential information in a notice the holder is required to provide to an apparent owner under this chapter.

§ 41–164.06. Security of information.

(a) If a holder is required to include confidential information in a report to the Administrator, the information must be provided by a secure means.

(b) If confidential information in a record is provided to and maintained by the Administrator or Administrator's agent as required by this chapter, the Administrator or agent shall:

(1) Implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the information required by §§ § 28-3851 to 28-3864 and federal privacy and data security law whether or not the Administrator or the Administrator's agent is subject to the law;

(2) Protect against reasonably anticipated threats or hazards to the security, confidentiality, or integrity of the information; and

(3) Protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to a holder or the holder's customers, including insureds, annuitants, and policy or contract owners and their beneficiaries.

(1) After notice and comment, shall adopt and implement a security plan that identifies and assesses reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to confidential information in the Administrator's possession and seeks to mitigate the risks; and

(2) Shall ensure that an Administrator's agent adopts and implements a similar plan with respect to confidential information in the agent's possession.

(d) The Administrator and the Administrator's agent shall educate and train their employees regarding the plan adopted under subsection (c) of this section.

(e) The Administrator and the Administrator's agent shall in a secure manner return or destroy all confidential information no longer reasonably needed under this chapter.

§ 41–164.07. Security breach.

(a) Except to the extent prohibited by law other than this chapter, the Administrator or Administrator's agent shall notify a holder as soon as practicable of:

(1) A suspected loss, misuse or unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of confidential information obtained from the holder in the possession of the Administrator or an Administrator's agent; and

(2) Any interference with operations in any system hosting or housing confidential information that:

(A) Compromises the security, confidentiality, or integrity of the information; or

(B) Creates a substantial risk of identity fraud or theft.

(b) Except as necessary to inform an insurer, attorney, investigator, or others as required by law, the Administrator and an Administrator's agent may not disclose, without the express consent in a record of the holder, an event described in subsection (a) of this section to a person whose confidential information was supplied by the holder.

(c) If an event described in subsection (a) of this section occurs, the Administrator and the Administrator's agent shall:

(1) Take action necessary for the holder to understand and minimize the effect of the event and determine its scope; and

(2) Cooperate with the holder with respect to:

(A) Any notification required by law concerning a data or other security breach; and

(B) A regulatory inquiry, litigation, or similar action.

§ 41–164.08. Indemnification for breach by agent.

(a) If a claim is made or action commenced arising out of an event described in § 41-164.07(a) relating to confidential information possessed by an Administrator's agent, the Administrator's agent shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless a holder and the holder's affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents as to:

(1) Any claim or action and

(2) A liability, obligation, loss, damage, cost, fee, penalty, fine, settlement, charge, or other expense, including reasonable attorney's fees and costs, established by the claim or action.

(b) The Administrator shall require an Administrator's agent that will receive confidential information required under this chapter to maintain adequate insurance for indemnification obligations of the Administrator's agent under subsection (a) of this section. The agent required to maintain the insurance shall provide evidence of the insurance to:

(1) The Administrator not less frequently than annually; and

(2) The holder on commencement of an examination and annually thereafter until all confidential information is returned or destroyed under § 41-164.06(e).

Subchapter XV. Miscellaneous Provisions.

§ 41–165.01. Uniformity of application and construction.

In applying and construing this uniform act consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

§ 41–165.02. Relation to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.

This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, approved June 30, 2000 (114 Stat. 464; 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.), but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act (15 U.S.C. § 7001(c)), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act (15 U.S.C. § 7003(b)).

§ 41–165.03. Transitional provision.

(a) An initial report filed under this chapter for property that was not required to be reported before November 13,2021, but that is required to be reported under this chapter, must include all items of property that would have been presumed abandoned during the 10-year period preceding November 13,2021 as if this chapter had been in effect during that period.

(b) This chapter does not relieve a holder of a duty that arose before November 13, 2021 to report, pay, or deliver property. Subject to § 41-156.10(b) and (c), a holder that did not comply with the law governing unclaimed property before November 13, 2021 is subject to applicable provisions for enforcement and penalties in effect before November 13, 2021.

§ 41–165.04. Transfer of funds.

All funds in the trust fund established under § 41-123 shall be transferred to the Unclaimed Property Account, established under § 41-158.01(a).

§ 41–165.05. Unclaimed deposits for excavation work in public space.

(a) This chapter shall not apply to an unclaimed deposit for excavation work in public space.

(b) The Mayor shall establish, by rule, the standards and procedures for determining:

(1) Whether and when an unclaimed deposit for excavation work in public space will be considered abandoned; and

(2) The custody and ownership of an unclaimed deposit for excavation work in public space.