Section 35-12-46

Confidentiality of information; rules and regulations of Treasurer; employees; special counsel.

(a) Information regarding any property which is the subject of this article, including, without limitation, descriptions of the property and names, addresses, or any other information which may be used, directly or indirectly, to attempt to contact actual or potential owners of the property, is confidential and is hereby excepted from any and all laws relating to the disclosure of public records. Except as expressly authorized by the Treasurer, it shall be unlawful for any person to print, publish, or divulge any information regarding property subject to this article, including, without limitation, descriptions of the property and names, addresses, or any information which may be used to contact owners or potential owners of the property. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall have committed a Class A misdemeanor for each unlawful act of disclosure and shall be further subject to the penalties set forth in Section 35-12-45.

(b) The Treasurer is exclusively authorized to make any necessary rules and regulations necessary to carry out this article, and, under the provisions of the merit system, shall have the authority to appoint or employ the accountants, examiners, clerks, and other employees necessary to carry out the duties conferred upon the Treasurer, and the salaries therefor shall be fixed according to the provisions of the merit system. The Treasurer shall also have the authority to employ one employee whose salary shall be set by the Treasurer and who shall not be subject to the merit system and, by and with the approval of the Governor, have authority to employ and fix the compensation of the special counsel or attorneys as he or she may deem necessary and expedient to carry out this article and pay the same out of the Unclaimed Property Administrative Fund provided for in Section 35-12-39.

(Acts 1971, No. 63, p. 101, §26; Acts 1996, No. 96-724, p. 1197, §1.)