HB 218-MUSEUM ACQUISITION OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY  MR. KEVIN HAND, legislative assistant to Representative Halcro, sponsor of HB 218, made the following comments about CSHB 218(FIN). Alaska's museums contain many artifacts in need of special care that were loaned by owners who are no longer in contact with the museums. Often lenders pass away or move without maintaining notice to the museum, or no documentation as to the origin of some of the artifacts exists. This leaves museums in a difficult position since, without contact with the lender or defined ownership by the museum, it is difficult to properly care for the artifacts while simultaneously incurring the cost for storage of the items. Some items have degenerated to the point where it is best to dispose of that property to make room for more valuable artifacts. Contamination, insects, and fungi are often culprits in providing a serious threat to other artifacts. Without ownership or permission from the lenders, museums must care for the artifacts without the authority to do so. CSHB 218(FIN) establishes a process through which museums can clarify title on unclaimed property. The process is as follows: at least 7 years must pass between the expiration date of the loan with no contact between the lender and the museum; the museum must send a notice by certified mail to the lender's last known address; if, after 30 days, no one has contacted the museum, the museum must publish a notice for four weeks in a general circulation newspaper in the area of the museum and in the area of the last known address of the lender; and, after 45 days, the museum may claim title to the property. MR. HAND stated CSHB 218(FIN) satisfies more than a reasonable effort on behalf of the museum to contact missing property owners. The lender would still have legal recourse through a reclamation period of two years. Museums must notify lenders of any change of the location of the museum and they must also notify all new lenders of the process. The museum community requested and strongly supports this bill and there is no known opposition to it. Number 326 SENATOR ELTON asked if museums will incur any liability during the two year reclamation period. MR. HAND replied when the museum takes ownership, it will have title, therefore during the two-year window the museum would incur no liability. MS. BEA SHEPARD, a representative of Museums Alaska, a statewide organization of museums, stated support for CSHB 218(FIN). Museums Alaska has been trying for a number of years to get this legislation introduced because the museums are unable to handle the abandoned collections they have on hand. The museums are unable to do anything with the collections if they do not have title to the items. CSHB 218(FIN) will provide an excellent method of handling abandoned items. MR. JOE LEAHY, the Executive Director of the Huna Totem Heritage Foundation, informed committee members the Foundation is planning to build a new cultural heritage center facility. As the former director of the Last Chance Mining Museum in Juneau and the Valdez Museum's historical archive program, he knows it is extremely difficult for museums to manage their limited resources while being burdened with excess property they have no title to. He believes CSHB 218(FIN) is an excellent piece of legislation. MS. DONNA MATTHEWS, Executive Director of Museums Alaska, which represents 70 small and three large museums in the State, said she is very eager to see this legislation enacted to help museums clarify what to do with abandoned property. There being no further testimony, SENATOR ELTON moved CSHB 218(FIN) from committee with individual recommendations and its attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CHAIRMAN MILLER announced CSHB 218(FIN) moved from committee.