Sec. 29. (a) For purposes of this section, payment or delivery is made in good faith if:

(1) payment or delivery was made in a reasonable attempt to comply with this chapter;

(2) the holder was not a fiduciary in breach of trust with respect to the property and had a reasonable basis for believing, based on the facts known at the time, that the property was abandoned; and

(3) there is not a showing that the records under which the delivery was made did not meet reasonable commercial standards of practice in the industry.

(b) Upon the payment or delivery of property to the attorney general, the state assumes custody and responsibility for the safekeeping of the property. A holder who pays or delivers property to the attorney general in good faith is relieved of all liability with respect to the property after the payment and delivery.

(c) A holder who has paid money to the attorney general under this chapter may later make payment to a person who, in the opinion of the holder, appears to be entitled to the payment. The attorney general shall promptly reimburse the holder for the payment without imposing a fee or other charge if the holder files proof of payment and proof that the payee was entitled to the payment. If any reimbursement is sought for a payment made on a negotiable instrument, including a traveler's check or money order, the holder must be reimbursed upon filing proof that:

(1) the instrument was duly presented; and

(2) the payment was made to a person who appeared to be entitled to the payment.

The holder must be reimbursed for the payment made even if the payment was made to a person whose claim was barred under section 41 of this chapter.

(d) A holder who has delivered property, including a certificate of any interest in a business association, but not including money, to the attorney general under this chapter may reclaim the property without paying a fee or other charge if the property is still in the possession of the attorney general, upon filing proof that the apparent owner has claimed the property from the holder.

(e) The attorney general may accept the holder's affidavit as sufficient proof of the holder's right to recover the money and the property under this section.

(f) If the holder pays or delivers property to the attorney general in good faith and later:

(1) another person claims the property from the holder; or

(2) another state claims the money or property under that state's laws relating to escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property;

the attorney general, upon written notice of the claim, shall defend the holder against the claim and indemnify the holder against any liability on the claim.

(g) Property removed from a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository is received by the attorney general subject to the holder's right to be reimbursed for the cost of the opening and reasonable expenses incurred in determining the current addresses of any owners for whom the last previous address contained in the holder's records appears to be inaccurate. The property is subject to any valid lien or contract providing for the holder to be reimbursed for unpaid rent or storage charges. The attorney general shall reimburse or pay the holder out of the proceeds remaining after deducting the attorney general's cost of selling the property.

[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-9-1.5-29.]

As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.19.