§377. Donations and loans; disposition of abandoned loans

A. The secretary of state and the board, jointly or separately, may solicit and accept funds, governmental grants, donations, and contributions of lands, buildings, monies, relics, works of art, or other property on behalf of and as additions to the Old State Capitol either in the form of loans or in the form of donations inter vivos or mortis causa, and the secretary may acquire them by purchase, lease, or otherwise, subject to the terms, conditions, or limitations contained in the instrument by which such property is acquired. However, the secretary shall be empowered and authorized to enter into any and all contracts with any person, lender, or donor that he may deem fit, proper, and necessary to accept and receive such lands, buildings, monies, relics, works of art, or other property on behalf of and as additions to the Old State Capitol. The Old State Capitol is specifically empowered to serve as the beneficiary of any public trust heretofore or hereafter created for such purpose pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 9:2341 through 9:2347.

B. The secretary is granted the authority of deaccession with respect to any collections of the Old State Capitol and for such purpose is specifically exempted from the laws of the state relative to the sale or disposal of surplus property. The secretary shall establish policies and procedures necessary to carry out this authority in an orderly manner.

C.(1) Any property which has been deposited with the Old State Capitol, by loan or otherwise, and which has been held by the Old State Capitol for more than ten years, and to which no person has made claim shall be deemed to be abandoned and, notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 1 of Title XII of Book III of the Louisiana Civil Code, shall become the property of the Old State Capitol, provided that the Old State Capitol has complied with the following provisions:

(2) At least once a week for two consecutive weeks, the secretary shall publish in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the parish a notice and listing of the property. The notice shall contain:

(a) The name and last known address, if any, of the last known owner or depositor of the property.

(b) A description of the property.

(c) A statement that if proof of claim is not presented by the owner to the secretary and if the owner's right to receive such property is not established to the satisfaction of the secretary within sixty-five days from the date of the second published notice, the property will be deemed to be abandoned and shall become the property of the Old State Capitol.

(3) If no valid claim has been made to the property within sixty-five days from the date of the second published notice, title to the property shall vest in the Old State Capitol free from all claims of the owner and all persons claiming through or under him.

Acts 1990, No. 726, §1.