TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
§ 30103
DIVISION 3: JUDICIAL BRANCH
§ 30103. Disposition of Abandoned Property. (a) Property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner after the property is held by the judiciary one year after the property becomes payable or distributable. After such time has passed, notice shall be given, and if the property remains unclaimed for 120 days after notice has been given, the Administrator shall petition the Superior Court to request that an order be issued directing the property be transferred to a Judiciary Legal Services Revolving Fund, which shall be kept separate from the General Fund. (b) Before making a deposit into the revolving fund, the administrator may reasonably deduct: (1) costs of mailing and publication in connection with abandoned property; (2) reasonable service charges; and (3) expenses incurred in examining records of holders of property. (c) The Chief Justice, or a designee, shall be the expenditure authority for the Judiciary Legal Services Revolving Fund. (d) Moneys in the revolving fund shall be used to pay for: (1) indigent legal services including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, transcription costs, translator fees, expert witness fees, investigator fees, and costs. Such expenses shall only be paid in connection with a Commonwealth Court appointed attorney representing an indigent client; (2) pro se legal resources; and (3) payment of the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund loan. (e) With respect to managing the revolving fund and expending moneys from it, the Judiciary is exempt from the Planning and Budgeting Act, Title 1, Division 7, Part 1, Chapters 1 through 7; codified at 1 CMC §§ 7101 et seq. Source: PL 18-36 § 4 (Feb. 14, 2014), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission corrected paragraph designations pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(a). The Commission inserted a section symbol into the phrase “1 CMC §§ 7101” pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g).
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