1. (1) The administrator shall give notice to an apparent owner that property presumed abandoned and appears to be owned by the apparent owner is held by the administrator under this chapter.

2. (2) In providing notice under subsection (1) of this section, the administrator shall:

   1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in (b) of this subsection, send written notice by first-class United States mail to each apparent owner of property valued at $75 or more held by the administrator, unless the administrator determines that a mailing by first-class United States mail would not be received by the apparent owner, and, in the case of a security held in an account for which the apparent owner had consented to receiving email from the holder, send notice by email if the email address of the apparent owner is known to the administrator instead of by first-class United States mail; or
   2. (b) Send the notice to the apparent owner's email address if the administrator does not have a valid United States mail address for an apparent owner, but has an email address that the administrator does not know to be invalid.

3. (3) In addition to the notice under subsection (2) of this section, the administrator shall:

   1. (a) Publish every 12 months in the printed or online version of a newspaper of general circulation within this state, which the administrator determines is most likely to give notice to the apparent owner of the property, notice of property held by the administrator which must include:

      1. (i) The total value of property received by the administrator during the preceding 12-month period, taken from the reports under RCW 63.30.220;
      2. (ii) The total value of claims paid by the administrator during the preceding 12-month period;
      3. (iii) The internet web address of the unclaimed property website maintained by the administrator;
      4. (iv) A telephone number and email address to contact the administrator to inquire about or claim property; and
      5. (v) A statement that a person may access the internet by a computer to search for unclaimed property and a computer may be available as a service to the public at a local public library; and
   2. (b) Maintain a website or database accessible by the public and electronically searchable which contains the names reported to the administrator of all apparent owners for whom property is being held by the administrator.
4. (4) The website or database maintained under subsection (3)(b) of this section must include instructions for filing with the administrator a claim to property and a printable claim form with instructions for its use.
5. (5) In addition to giving notice under subsection (2) of this section, publishing the information under subsection (3)(a) of this section and maintaining the website or database under subsection (3)(b) of this section, the administrator may use other printed publication, telecommunications, the internet, or other media to inform the public of the existence of unclaimed property held by the administrator.

[ 2022 c 225 s 503.]