(a) Those unclaimed articles of personal property that are covered by AS 34.45.110 - 34.45.260 and the unclaimed money in the custody of a treatment facility that belong to a patient who dies before discharge, or to a patient who leaves the hospital without authority, if unclaimed by the patient or the legal heirs or representatives of the patient within one year after the patient's death or departure, shall be disposed of in accordance with AS 34.45.110 - 34.45.780, and the other articles of the patient's personal property shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed by the department and the proceeds deposited in the general fund. (b) If a mentally ill individual has died in a foreign facility and the department desires to recover the patient's personal property under this section, the commissioner or the commissioner's designated representative may secure the property and for that purpose only is designated the decedent's administrator. Property so recovered shall be disposed of as provided by law.
Alaska Legal Code