Sec. 441.181. STATE ARCHIVES PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall take legal custody of and preserve archival state records and shall endeavor to collect and preserve other historical resources determined by the director and librarian to possess sufficient value to warrant continued preservation in the state archives.

(b) The director and librarian shall appoint a state archivist to administer the state archives program.

(c) Under the direction of the director and librarian, the state archivist shall:

(1) identify and designate archival state records and arrange for their transfer to the custody of the commission in accordance with Section 441.186;

(2) according to accepted archival practices, arrange, describe, and preserve archival state records and historical resources that come into the possession of the commission through gift, purchase, or other means that the director and librarian determines shall be included in the state archives program;

(3) prepare inventories, indexes, catalogs, or other research aids to state archival records and other historical resources held by the program;

(4) encourage public use of state archival records and other historical resources held by the program and provide public access to them in accordance with rules adopted by the commission under Section 441.193;

(5) cooperate with and, when practicable, provide training and consultative assistance to state agencies, libraries, organizations, and individuals on projects designed to preserve original source materials relating to Texas history, government, and culture;

(6) advise the director and librarian and the commission on all matters concerning the acquisition and preservation of archival state records and other historical resources; and

(7) perform other duties as this subchapter or the director and librarian may require.

(d) Under the direction of the director and librarian, the state archivist shall also assist in carrying out the duties of the commission and the director and librarian relating to the preservation of local government records of permanent value under Subtitle C, Title 6, Local Government Code, and Subchapter J.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 873, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.