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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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3.

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     29-2-5. Reports on expenditures.

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

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

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

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with §§ 29-2-1, 29-2-2, and 29-2-3.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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at the state library and will be updated annually.

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

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Island Black Heritage Society for this purpose.

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     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

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

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

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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