HBA-MPM H.B. 541 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 541 By: Junell State, Federal & International Relations 66/14/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE State law authorizes the comptroller of public accounts to sell unclaimed property, except for money and marketable securities. Prior to the 77th Legislature, this could have included the sale of any military awards and decorations. House Bill 541 prohibits the sale or destruction of such items by the comptroller and requires that the items be held in trust for display at a museum established by the adjutant general's department if the item is not claimed by its rightful owner. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 541 amends the Property Code to prohibit a military award or decoration (award) delivered to the comptroller from being sold as property or destroyed, and requires that an award be delivered by the comptroller to the adjutant general's department (department). The department is required to conduct a reasonable search of public records to locate the owner of the award or the owner's next of kin. If neither person can be located, the bill requires the award to be held in trust for the comptroller at a museum established by the department or if no museum exists, at another public facility designated by the department. The bill provides that the award is required to be used in a display or exhibit honoring persons who have served the state or nation in military service, and if this is not feasible, the award is required to be kept in a secure storage area or loaned to another museum for use in such a display. The provisions of this bill do not affect a person's right to claim an award. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001