Colorado Passes Version of 2016 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act

New Legislation, Which Reduces Many Dormancy Periods To 3 Years, Is Effective July 1, 2020

 

On April 16, 2019, Colorado Governor Jared S. Polis signed Senate Bill 19-088 into law, which adopts a version of the 2016 Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. Under the new law, the dormancy period for most property types will drop to 3 years (down from 5). Certain bank accounts and gift cards will still be subject to a 5 year dormancy period, and other items like payroll and dissolution proceeds will continue to have a 1 year dormancy period.

With respect to securities, the new legislation imposes a 3 year dormancy period, that now begins to run upon the second instance of returned mail (as opposed to the former unclaimed dividend standard). The new law also leaves in place certain Colorado-specific exemptions that were in the prior Unclaimed Property Act, such as the exemption for certain lawyer trust accounts, gaming chips or tokens, property held by racetracks, and certain gift card proceeds held by small issuers.

The new legislation keeps the current October 31 reporting deadline for property deemed abandoned as of the previous June 30. The new law goes into effect for the 2020 report.