Sec. 44. (a) The attorney general may enter into an agreement with other states to exchange information relating to unclaimed property or the possible existence of unclaimed property. The agreements may permit other states, or a person acting on behalf of a state, to examine records as authorized in section 42 of this chapter. The attorney general may, by rule, require the reporting of information needed to enable compliance with any agreements made under this section and prescribe the form.

(b) The attorney general may join with other states to seek enforcement of this chapter against a person who is or may be holding property reportable under this chapter.

(c) At the request of another state, the attorney general may commence an action on behalf of the administrator of the other state to enforce in Indiana the unclaimed property laws of the other state against a holder of property subject to escheat or a claim of abandonment by the other state, if the other state has agreed to pay expenses incurred by the attorney general in maintaining the action.

(d) The attorney general may request that the attorney general of another state or any other attorney commence an action in that state on behalf of the attorney general. The attorney general may retain another attorney to commence an action in Indiana on behalf of the attorney general. This state shall pay all expenses, including attorney's fees, in maintaining an action under this subsection. With the attorney general's approval, the expenses and attorney's fees may be paid from money received under this chapter. The attorney general may agree to pay the person bringing the action attorney's fees based in whole or in part on a percentage of the value of any property recovered in the action. Expenses or attorney's fees paid under this subsection may not be deducted from the amount that is subject to the claim by the owner under this chapter.

(e) Any documents and working papers obtained or compiled by the attorney general or the attorney general's agents, employees, or designated representatives in the course of conducting an audit under section 42 of this chapter are confidential and are not public records except:

(1) when used by the attorney general to maintain an action to collect unclaimed property or otherwise enforce this chapter;

(2) when used in joint audits conducted with or under agreements with other states, the federal government, or other governmental entities; or

(3) under subpoena or court order.

The documents and working papers may be disclosed to the abandoned property office of another state for that state's use in circumstances equivalent to those described in this subsection if the other state is bound to keep the documents and papers confidential.

(f) The attorney general's final completed audit reports are public records, available for inspection and copying under IC 5-14-3. A final report may not contain confidential documentation or working papers unless an exception under subsection (e) applies.

[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-9-1.5-46.]

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