(1) It is specifically recognized that the state has an obligation to make an effort to notify owners of unclaimed property in a cost-effective manner. In order to provide all the citizens of this state an effective and efficient program for the recovery of unclaimed property, the department shall use cost-effective means to make at least one active attempt to notify owners of unclaimed property accounts valued at more than $250 with a reported address or taxpayer identification number. Such active attempt to notify apparent owners shall include any attempt by the department to directly contact the owner. Other means of notification, such as publication of the names of owners in the newspaper, on television, on the Internet, or through other promotional efforts and items in which the department does not directly attempt to contact the owner are expressly declared to be passive attempts. Nothing in this subsection precludes other agencies or entities of state government from notifying owners of the existence of unclaimed property or attempting to notify apparent owners of unclaimed property.
(2) Notification provided directly to individual apparent owners shall consist of a description of the property and information regarding recovery of unclaimed property from the department.
(3) This section is not applicable to sums payable on traveler’s checks, money orders, and other written instruments presumed unclaimed under s. 717.104.
History.—s. 19, ch. 87-105; s. 2, ch. 88-256; s. 31, ch. 92-319; s. 2, ch. 93-280; s. 10, ch. 96-301; s. 18, ch. 2001-36; s. 116, ch. 2004-390; s. 5, ch. 2005-163.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XL - Real and Personal Property
Chapter 717 - Disposition of Unclaimed Property
717.102 - Property Presumed Unclaimed; General Rule.
717.103 - General Rules for Taking Custody of Intangible Unclaimed Property.
717.104 - Traveler’s Checks and Money Orders.
717.1045 - Gift Certificates and Similar Credit Items.
717.106 - Bank Deposits and Funds in Financial Organizations.
717.108 - Deposits Held by Utilities.
717.109 - Refunds Held by Business Associations.
717.1101 - Unclaimed Equity and Debt of Business Associations.
717.111 - Property of Business Associations Held in Course of Dissolution.
717.112 - Property Held by Agents and Fiduciaries.
717.1125 - Property Held by Fiduciaries Under Trust Instruments.
717.113 - Property Held by Courts and Public Agencies.
717.116 - Contents of Safe-Deposit Box or Other Safekeeping Repository.
717.117 - Report of Unclaimed Property.
717.118 - Notification of Apparent Owners of Unclaimed Property.
717.119 - Payment or Delivery of Unclaimed Property.
717.121 - Crediting of Dividends, Interest, or Increments to Owner’s Account.
717.122 - Public Sale of Unclaimed Property.
717.1235 - Dormant Campaign Accounts; Report of Unclaimed Property.
717.124 - Unclaimed Property Claims.
717.12404 - Claims on Behalf of a Business Entity or Trust.
717.12405 - Claims by Estates.
717.12406 - Joint Ownership of Unclaimed Securities or Dividends.
717.1241 - Conflicting Claims.
717.1242 - Restatement of Jurisdiction of the Circuit Court Sitting in Probate and the Department.
717.1243 - Small Estate Accounts.
717.1244 - Determinations of Unclaimed Property Claims.
717.1245 - Garnishment of Unclaimed Property.
717.125 - Claim of Another State to Recover Property; Procedure.
717.126 - Administrative Hearing; Burden of Proof; Proof of Entitlement; Venue.
717.1261 - Death Certificates.
717.127 - Election to Take Payment or Delivery.
717.129 - Periods of Limitation.
717.1301 - Investigations; Examinations; Subpoenas.
717.1311 - Retention of Records.
717.1315 - Retention of Records by Claimant’s Representatives and Buyers of Unclaimed Property.
717.132 - Enforcement; Cease and Desist Orders; Fines.
717.1322 - Administrative and Civil Enforcement.
717.1323 - Prohibited Practice.
717.133 - Interstate Agreements and Cooperation; Joint and Reciprocal Actions With Other States.
717.1331 - Actions Against Holders.
717.134 - Penalties and Interest.
717.1341 - Invalid Claims, Recovery of Property, Interest and Penalties.
717.1355 - Theme Park and Entertainment Complex Tickets.
717.136 - Foreign Transactions.
717.138 - Rulemaking Authority.
717.1382 - United States Savings Bond; Unclaimed Property; Escheatment; Procedure.
717.1383 - United States Savings Bond; Claim for Bond.