2023 -- H 5615

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Morales, Abney, Hull, Henries, Cruz, Batista,
Sanchez, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 29-2-4 and 29-2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 29-2 entitled

"Historical Society Libraries" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     29-2-4. Use of historical society libraries.

     All books, periodicals, and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Historical Society,

the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the Newport Historical Society, shall at all reasonable

times be open to the use of all the citizens of the state, under the same conditions pertaining to the

members of the society as long as funds are provided under §§ 29-2-1, 29-2-2, 29-2-2.1, and 29-2-

3.

     29-2-5. Reports on expenditures.

     (a) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the

Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall place on file with the state librarian annual reports

as to the manner in which the funds are expended, as long as funds are appropriated in accordance

with §§ 29-2-1, 29-2-2, and 29-2-3.

     (b) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the

Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall submit to the general assembly and the state

librarian annually a plan for the preservation initiatives for the collections in its care. The report

shall be submitted as part of the annual report of each agency.

     (c) The Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and the

Newport Historical Society, respectively, shall submit to the state librarian a disaster preparedness

plan for the collection in its care on or before January 1, 1993. The plan will be maintained on file

at the state library and will be updated annually.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 29-2 of the General Laws entitled "Historical Society Libraries" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     29-2-2.1. Appropriations for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.

     The general assembly shall annually appropriate such a sum as it may deem necessary, out

of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended by the state librarian for

the purpose of caring for, preserving, and cataloguing the property of the state in the keeping of the

Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, and for the purchase and binding of books relating to the

history of the state, and for copying and preserving the records of the several towns of the state,

and the state librarian, with the approval of the secretary of state, may pay this sum to the Rhode

Island Black Heritage Society for this purpose.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARIES

***

     This act would include all books, periodicals and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island

Black Heritage Society to be placed under the care of the state librarian.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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