2016 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 44 - Public Records and Recorders
RS 44:417 - Deposit of records of historical value; transfer of deposited records to public or educational institutions

§417. Deposit of records of historical value; transfer of deposited records to public or educational institutions

A. The records and associated historical materials of any governor of the state of Louisiana, or any other official of the state, shall be transferred to the custody of the state archivist and deposited with the state archives program within the division when the governor, or other official of the state, leaves office. This Section shall not affect the confidentiality of such records as established by law, nor require the transfer of any document certified by the governor, governor elect, or other official of the state, to be essential for the continued efficient operation of the relevant governmental office; nor shall the provisions of this Section be construed to apply to demonstrably personal and private papers.

B. The state archivist is authorized:

(1) To accept for deposit in the state archives those records of any state or local agency or of the legislature that are determined by the director to have sufficient historical or other value to warrant their continued preservation by the state government of Louisiana.

(2) To direct and effect the transfer to the state archives of any records that have been in existence for more than fifty years and that are determined by the state archivist to have sufficient historical or other value to warrant their continued preservation by the state, unless the head of the state or local agency having custody of the records shall certify in writing to the state archivist that those records must be retained in agency custody because they are essential in the conducting of the regular current business of the said agency.

C. The state archivist is also authorized:

(1) To direct and effect, in accordance with law, with the policies of the division, and with any restrictions or stipulations agreed upon between the division and the head of the originating agency, or its successor, if any, the transfer of records deposited or approved for deposit in the state archives or the records center to public or educational institutions for special research or exhibit purposes. It is prescribed and provided that title to such records shall remain vested in the state of Louisiana unless otherwise authorized by law or, in the absence of legal provision, through policies established by the division. It is further provided that such records may be recalled after reasonable notice in writing.

(2) To direct and effect the transfer to the division from private sources of materials which the state archivist is authorized to receive, and to hold in the custody of the division under the provisions of R.S. 44:406 and R.S. 44:420.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §17; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.