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Texas State Library Reauthorized until 2019

Every twelve years, more than 150 government agencies undergo a legislative review by the Sunset Advisory Commission to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. The Sunset Advisory Commission seeks public input through hearings on every agency and recomments actions on each agency to the full legislature. In most cases, agencies under sunset review are automatically abolished unless legislation is enacted to continue them.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission underwent "Sunset" during the 80th Texas Legislature (January - May 2007).

S.B. 913, introduced by Senator Kim Brimer, is the legislation that continues the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and its functions until September 1, 2019. S.B. 913 passed the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives during the 80th legislative session, and was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on May 25, 2007.

Read S.B. 913

Some of the key provisions of S.B. 913:

  1. Continues the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for 12 years.
  2. Removes the system funding formula from statute and requires the state library to adopt a new formula in rule that ensures funding for basic system support services.
  3. Requires the state library to fund competitive grants aimed at increasing innovation and targeting state and federal goals.
  4. Eliminates the agency's certification of county librarians.
  5. Authorizes the agency to promote and lead a collaboration between a wide range of Texas institutions to develop an online tool for searching digitized cultural resources.
  6. Directs the state library and the Texas Education Agency to conduct a joint study to identify school library needs and to determine which needs each agency is best suited to address. Results are to be reported by Dec. 31, 2008.
  7. Authorizes the agency to permit library systems to earn outside revenue and to retain this revenue from year to year.
  8. Authorizes the agency to take possession of an archival document when an institution of higher education and a county are not in agreement over the custody of the document.
  9. Requires the state library to update rules relating to conflicts of interest; grounds for removal of a member of the policymaking body; and, training required for members of the policymaking body.
  10. Requires information to be maintained on complaints.
  11. Directs the agency to use technology to increase public access.
  12. Authorizes the state library to develop and use appropriate alternative rulemaking and dispute resolution procedures.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission maintained a Web page throughout the Sunset evaluation process. Here you can access background information, including reports, comments, and timeline. Background information.

For more information, email Deputy Director Edward Seidenberg.