H.B. No. 2270
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to claims for abandoned property filed with the state
    1-3  treasurer.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 74.502(d), Property Code, is amended to
    1-6  read as follows:
    1-7        (d)  If the amount paid under Subsection (b) is more than
    1-8  $100, the State Treasurer <and the attorney general> shall examine
    1-9  the claim and any supporting affidavit or evidence of the claim.
   1-10  Before the State Treasurer may reimburse a depository for a claim
   1-11  under this subsection, the claim must be approved and signed by the
   1-12  State Treasurer <and the attorney general>.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  Section 74.503, Property Code, is amended to read
   1-14  as follows:
   1-15        Sec. 74.503.  CONSIDERATION OF CLAIM.  The State Treasurer
   1-16  <and the attorney general> or the treasurer's <their> authorized
   1-17  agent <agents jointly> shall consider the validity of each claim
   1-18  filed under this subchapter.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  Section 74.504, Property Code, is amended to read
   1-20  as follows:
   1-21        Sec. 74.504.  HEARING.  (a)  The State Treasurer <and the
   1-22  attorney general> may hold a hearing and receive evidence
   1-23  concerning a claim filed under this subchapter.
    2-1        (b)  If the State Treasurer considers <and the attorney
    2-2  general consider> that a hearing is necessary to determine the
    2-3  validity of a claim, <both> the State Treasurer <and the attorney
    2-4  general> shall sign the statement of the findings and the decision
    2-5  on the claim.  The statement shall report the substance of the
    2-6  evidence heard and the reasons for the decision.  The statement is
    2-7  a public record.
    2-8        (c)  If the State Treasurer determines <and the attorney
    2-9  general determine> that a claim is valid, the State Treasurer
   2-10  <they> shall approve and sign the claim.
   2-11        SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   2-12        SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-13  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-14  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-15  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-16  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.