Unclaimed military medal bill advanced

Senators advanced a bill from general file March 22 meant to address the handling of unclaimed military medals.

Under LB819 as introduced, any unclaimed military medal, decoration or award removed from a safe deposit or collateral deposit box in Nebraska would be delivered to the state treasurer’s office.

Bellevue Sen. Scott Price, sponsor of LB819, said some other states melt unclaimed military decorations for the value of the medal and that he introduced the bill to prevent the same action from being taken in Nebraska.

A Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment, adopted 34-0, clarified that unclaimed medals would be reported to the treasurer’s office on the same schedule as other unclaimed property and would allow the treasurer’s office to make a veterans’ organization or other entity the custodian of any unclaimed medals after 10 years.

The bill advanced on a 30-0 vote.