Sec. 191.058. CURATION OF ARTIFACTS. (a) As far as is consistent with the public policy of this chapter, the committee, on a majority vote, may arrange or contract with other state agencies or political subdivisions, and qualified private institutions, corporations, or individuals, for public display of artifacts and other items in its custody through permanent exhibits established in the locality or region in which the artifacts were discovered or recovered. The committee, on a majority vote, may also arrange or contract with these same persons and groups for portable or mobile displays.

(b) The committee is the legal custodian of the items described in this chapter and shall adopt appropriate rules, terms, and conditions to assure appropriate security, qualification of personnel, insurance, facilities for preservation, restoration, and display of the items loaned under the contracts.

(c) Arrangements for curation of artifacts, data, and other materials recovered under Texas Antiquities Committee permits are specified in the body of the permit. Should a state agency or political subdivision lack the facilities or for any reason be unable to curate or provide responsible storage for such artifacts, data, or other materials, the Texas Antiquities Committee will arrange for curation at a suitable institution. The Texas Antiquities Committee may by rule assess costs for the curation.

(d) The committee may contract with a qualified institution for the institution to serve as a repository for artifacts and other items in the custody of the committee. The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is the repository for marine artifacts. The committee may contract with other qualified institutions to serve as additional repositories for marine artifacts. The committee may authorize an archeological repository to loan artifacts and other items curated by the repository to a qualified institution for public display. The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History:

(1) does not own the artifacts for which it serves as a repository; and

(2) shall make available for loan to a qualified institution for display the marine artifacts for which it serves as a repository.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2687, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 2008, ch. 364, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 948, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 797, Sec. 1, 2, eff. June 17, 1997.