2009 WISCONSIN ACT
253
An Act
to amend
59.66 (3) of the statutes;
relating to:
the Internet sale of unclaimed personal property by a sheriff.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1
.
59.66 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
59.66
(3)
Disposition of unclaimed personal property other than money or securities held by county institutions, coroners, medical examiners
,
or sheriffs.
All personal property other than money or securities of a deceased person who at the time of his or her death is a patient at any county institution or whose body is taken in charge by the coroner or medical examiner shall be preserved by the superintendent of the institution, the coroner
,
or the medical examiner for one year unless the property is claimed sooner by a person having the legal right to the property. Annually on July 1 the superintendent, coroner
,
or medical examiner shall make a verified written report listing all personal property which has remained in that person's custody for one year without being claimed and giving all facts as to ownership of the property as that person's records contain. The superintendent, coroner
,
or medical examiner shall file the report with the sheriff of the county and deliver the property to the sheriff, who shall issue a receipt for the property. Thereupon the superintendent, coroner
,
or medical examiner shall be discharged from further liability for the property, title to which shall then vest in the county. Any property which is left at the county jail for a period of one year after the prisoner has been discharged, transferred
,
or committed and any property, found or stolen, which comes into the hands of the sheriff and in any case remains unclaimed for a period of one year, shall be sold as prescribed in this subsection. The sheriff shall, on or before August 1 annually, post a notice in 3 public places in the county, briefly describing the property and stating that the sheriff will sell the property at public auction on a certain date and at a
named place
specified physical location or Internet site
, which auction shall be held accordingly. Any of the property which is not disposed of at the auction shall be sold for the best price obtainable, and if the property cannot be disposed of by sale, shall be destroyed in the presence of the sheriff. The sheriff shall, on or before September 1 annually, remit the proceeds of the auction or general sale to the treasurer and shall file a verified report of the sheriff's action in connection therewith. The proceeds shall become a part of the general fund of the county.
