(A) Unless there is a written loan agreement to the contrary, a museum may apply conservation measures to property on loan to the museum without notice to the owner or the owner's permission, if such measures are necessary to protect the property on loan or other property in the custody of the museum or if the property on loan is a hazard to the health and safety of the museum staff or the public, and if either of the following applies:

(1) The museum attempts but is unable to notify the owner at the owner's last known address not later than three days before the date the museum intends to apply the conservation measures.

(2) The museum notifies the owner not later than three days before the date the museum intends to apply the conservation measures, the owner does not agree to those measures, and the owner does not terminate the loan and retrieve the property within three days after receipt of the notice.

(B) If a museum applies conservation measures in accordance with division (A) of this section or with the agreement of the owner, both of the following apply:

(1) The museum shall acquire a lien on the property in the amount of the expenses incurred by the museum, unless the agreement provides otherwise.

(2) The museum is not liable for injury to or loss of the property, if the museum did both of the following:

(a) Reasonably believed at the time the conservation measures were taken that the measures were necessary to protect the property on loan or other property in the custody of the museum, or that the property on loan was a hazard to the health and safety of the museum staff or the public;

(b) Exercised reasonable care in the choice and application of the conservation measures.

Effective Date: 03-14-2003.