J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       1083

the State affords in his judgment the most favorable market for
the property involved. The administrator may decline the highest
bid and re-offer the property for sale if he considers the price bid
insufficient. He need not offer any property for sale if, in his opinion,
the probable cost of sale exceeds the value of the property.

(b)  Any sale held under this section shall be preceded by a single
publication of notice thereof, at least three weeks in advance of
sale in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or in
Baltimore City where the property is to be sold.

(c)  The purchaser at any sale conducted by the administrator
pursuant to this Article shall receive title to the property purchased,
free from all claims of the owner or prior holder thereof and of
all persons claiming through or under them. The administrator
shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of title.

(d)  No action shall be brought or maintained by any person
against the State or any officer thereof for or on account of any
transaction entered into pursuant to and in accordance with the
provisions of this section.

18. 16. (a) All funds received under this Act, including the pro-

ceeds from the sale of abandoned property under Section 17 shall

forthwith be deposited by the administrator into a special fund.
He shall retain in the fund at all times an amount not exceeding fifty

thousand dollars from which he shall make prompt payment of

claims duly allowed by him as provided for herein. The balance

OF SALE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY UNDER SECTION 17 15
SHALL BE CREDITED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR TO A SPE-
CIAL FUND. THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL RETAIN IN THE
SPECIAL FUND AT THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FROM
THE PROCEEDS RECEIVED BY HIM AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000.00), FROM
WHICH SUM HE SHALL PAY CLAIMS ALLOWED BY HIM OR
ALLOWED BY A COURT OF LAW PURSUANT TO THIS
ARTICLE. AFTER DEDUCTING ALL COSTS INCURRED IN
ADMINISTERING THIS ACT ON A PRO-RATA BASIS, AS PRO-
VIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) HEREOF, THE BALANCE OF
funds shall be distributed at least once annually or at such other
times as the administrator may in his discretion determine as fol-
lows: To each of the counties of the State or to Baltimore City the
funds of owners whose last known address was shown by the
records of holder to be in the county or City, as the case may be;
and (2) to the State of Maryland for deposit into the general funds
of the State of the funds for , THE FUNDS OF owners from whom
there is no last known address in this State. Before making any such
distribution, the administrator shall record the name and last known
address, if any, of the owners of funds so distributed and the type of
property which the funds distributed represent. The record shall be
available for public inspection at all reasonable business hours. BY
ANY PERSON CLAIMING A LEGAL INTEREST IN ANY
PROPERTY HELD BY THE ADMINISTRATOR, PROVIDED
THAT SUCH PERSON GIVES PRIOR NOTICE TO THE ADMIN-
ISTRATOR.

(b) Before making any deposit to the credit of DISTRIBUTION
TO the counties, Baltimore City, or the State, the administrator