Sec. 443.304. UNCLAIMED AND WITHHELD FUNDS. (a) If any funds of the receivership estate remain unclaimed after the final distribution under Section 443.302, the funds must be placed in a segregated unclaimed funds account held by the commissioner. If the owner of any of the unclaimed funds presents proof of ownership satisfactory to the commissioner before the second anniversary of the date of the termination of the delinquency proceeding, the commissioner shall remit the funds to the owner. The interest earned on funds held in the unclaimed funds account may be used to pay any administrative costs related to the handling or return of unclaimed funds.
(b) If any amounts held in the unclaimed funds account remain unclaimed on or after the second anniversary of the date of the termination of the delinquency proceeding, the commissioner may file a motion for an order directing the disposition of the funds in the court in which the delinquency proceeding was pending. Any costs incurred in connection with the motion may be paid from the unclaimed funds account. The motion shall identify the name of the insurer, the names and last known addresses of the persons entitled to the unclaimed funds, if known, and the amount of the funds. Notice of the motion shall be given as directed by the court. Upon a finding by the court that the funds have not been claimed before the second anniversary of the date of the termination of the delinquency proceeding, the court shall order that any claims for unclaimed funds and any interest earned on the unclaimed funds that has not been expended under Subsection (a) are abandoned and that the funds must be disbursed under one of the following methods:
(1) the amounts may be deposited in the general receivership expense account under Subsection (c);
(2) the amounts may be transferred to the comptroller, and deposited into the general revenue fund; or
(3) the amounts may be used to reopen the receivership in accordance with Section 443.353 and be distributed to the known claimants with approved claims.
(c) The commissioner may establish an account for the following purposes:
(1) to pay general expenses related to the administration of receiverships; and
(2) to advance funds to any receivership that does not have sufficient cash to pay its operating expenses.
(d) Any advance to a receivership under Subsection (c)(2) may be treated as a claim under Section 443.301 as agreed at the time the advance is made or, in the absence of an agreement, in the priority determined to be appropriate by the court.
(e) If the commissioner determines at any time that the funds in the account exceed the amount required, the commissioner may transfer the funds or any part of the funds to the comptroller, and the transferred funds must be deposited into the general revenue fund.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 995 (H.B. 2157), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.304 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(mm), eff. September 1, 2007.
Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.304 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(mm), eff. September 1, 2007.