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(a) Whenever any patient in any state institution subject to the jurisdiction of the State Department of State Hospitals escapes, is discharged, or is on leave of absence from the institution, and any personal funds or property of the patient remains in the hands of the superintendent, and no demand is made upon the superintendent by the owner of the funds or property or his or her legally appointed representative, all money and other intangible personal property of the patient, other than deeds, contracts, or assignments, remaining in the custody or possession of the superintendent shall be held by him or her for a period of seven years from the date of the escape, discharge, or leave of absence, for the benefit of the patient or his or her successors in interest. Unclaimed personal funds or property of minors on leave of absence may be exempted from this section during the period of their minority and for a period of one year thereafter, at the discretion of the Director of State Hospitals.
(b) Upon the expiration of the seven-year period, any money and other intangible property, other than deeds, contracts, or assignments, remaining unclaimed in the custody or possession of the superintendent shall be subject to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1500) of Title 10 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(c) Upon the expiration of one year from the date of the escape, discharge, or parole, the following shall apply:
(1) All deeds, contracts, or assignments shall be filed by the superintendent with the public administrator of the county of commitment of the patient.
(2) All tangible personal property other than money, remaining unclaimed in the superintendent’s custody or possession, shall be sold by the superintendent at public auction, or upon a sealed-bid basis, and the proceeds of the sale shall be held by him or her subject to Section 4125 of this code and Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1500) of Title 10 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If the superintendent deems it expedient to do so, the superintendent may accumulate the property of several patients and may sell the property in lots that the superintendent determines, provided that the superintendent makes a determination as to each patient’s share of the proceeds.
(d) If any tangible personal property covered by this section is not salable at public auction or upon a sealed-bid basis, or if it has no intrinsic value or its value is not sufficient to justify its retention by the superintendent to be offered for sale at public auction or upon a sealed-bid basis at a later date, the superintendent may order it destroyed.