As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) APPARENT OWNER. A person whose name appears on the records of a holder as the person entitled to property held, issued, or owing by the holder.
(2) BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. A corporation, joint stock company, investment company, partnership, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, business trust, trust company, safe deposit company, financial organization, insurance company, mutual fund, utility, or other business entity consisting of one or more persons, whether or not for profit.
(3) DOMICILE. The state of incorporation of a corporation and the state of the principal place of business of a holder other than a corporation.
(4) FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION. A savings and loan association, building and loan association, industrial loan organization, credit union, cooperative bank, bank, or banking organization.
(5) HOLDER. A person in possession of property belonging to another, or who is a trustee in case of a trust, obligated to hold for the account of, or deliver to, or pay to, the owner or apparent owner as applicable, property that is subject to this article.
(6) INSURANCE COMPANY. An association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual benefit organization, whether or not for profit, engaged in the business of providing life endowments, annuities, or insurance, including, but not limited to, accidental, burial, casualty, credit life, contract performance, dental, disability, fidelity, fire, health, hospitalization, illness, life, malpractice, marine, mortgage, surety, wage protection, and workers' compensation insurance.
(7) MINERAL. Gas; oil; coal; other gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons; oil shale; cement material; sand and gravel; road material; building stone; chemical raw material; gemstone; fissionable and nonfissionable ores; colloidal and other clay; steam and other geothermal resource; or any other substance defined as a mineral by the law of this state.
(8) MINERAL PROCEEDS. Amounts payable for the extraction, production, or sale of minerals, or, upon the abandonment of those payments, all payments that become payable thereafter. The term includes amounts payable:
a. For the acquisition and retention of a mineral lease, including bonuses, royalties, compensatory royalties, shut-in royalties, minimum royalties, and delay rentals.
b. For the extraction, production, or sale of minerals, including net revenue interests, royalties, overriding royalties, extraction payments, and production payments.
c. Under an agreement or option, including a joint operating agreement, unit agreement, pooling agreement, and farm-out agreement.
(9) OWNER. A person who has a legal or equitable interest in property subject to this article or the person's legal representative. The term includes a depositor in the case of a deposit, a beneficiary in the case of a trust other than a deposit in trust, and a creditor, claimant, or payee in the case of other property.
(10) PERSON. An individual, business association, financial organization, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(11) PROPERTY. Tangible property held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository in this state, and fixed and certain interest in intangible property that is held, issued, or owed in the course of a holder's business, or by a government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, and all income or increments therefrom. The term includes, but is not limited to, property that is referred to as or evidenced by any of the following:
a. Money, a check, draft, deposit, interest, or dividend.
b. Credit balance, customer's overpayment, gift certificate, security deposit, refund, credit memorandum, unpaid wage, unused ticket, mineral proceeds, or unidentified remittance.
c. Stock or other evidence of ownership of an interest in a business association or financial organization.
d. A bond, debenture, note, or other evidence of indebtedness.
e. Money deposited to redeem stocks, bonds, coupons, or other securities or to make distributions.
f. An amount due and payable under the terms of an annuity or insurance policy, including, but not limited to, policies providing life insurance, property and casualty insurance, workers' compensation insurance, or health and disability insurance.
g. An amount distributable from a trust or custodial fund established under a plan to provide health, welfare, pension, vacation, severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, profit sharing, employee savings, supplemental unemployment insurance, or similar benefits.
(12) RECORD. Information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(13) RULES. Rules necessary to carry out this article adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
(14) STATE. A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(15) TREASURER. The Treasurer of the State of Alabama, or the designee of the Treasurer.
(16) UTILITY. Any person who owns or operates, for public use, any plant, equipment, real property, franchise, or license for the transmission of communications or the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity, water, steam, or gas.
Last modified: May 3, 2021