§ 42-8.1-5. Duties and responsibilities.
(a) The state archivist under the direction of the secretary of state shall be responsible
for the proper administration of permanent records, including public records with
a minimum retention of twenty (20) years, possessing enduring value pursuant to § 38-3-6. It shall be the state archivist's duty to determine and direct the administrative
and technical procedures of the division. The state archivist shall study the problems
of preservation and disposition of records as defined in this chapter and based on
the study shall formulate and put into effect, to the extent authorized by law, within
the division or otherwise, such programs as the state archivist deems advisable or
necessary for public records of permanent historical or other value by agencies of
the state or political subdivisions thereof.
(b) The state archives shall reserve and administer those records as shall be transferred
to its custody, and accept, arrange, and preserve them, according to approved archival
practices and permit them at reasonable times and under the supervision of the division
to be inspected, examined, and copied; provided that any record placed in the keeping
of the division under special terms or conditions restricting their use shall be made
accessible only in accordance with such terms and conditions.
(c) The state archivist shall cooperate with and assist insofar as practicable, state
institutions, departments, agencies, the counties, municipalities, and individuals
engaged in activities in the field of state archives, manuscripts, and accept from
any person any papers, books, records, and similar materials that in the judgment
of the division warrant preservation in the state archives.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the state archivist may delegate any
of the functions of the state archivist to officers and employees of the division
as the state archivist may deem to be necessary or appropriate. A delegation of the
functions by the state archivist shall not relieve the state archivist of responsibility
for the administration of the functions.
(e) The secretary of state may organize the division as the secretary of state finds necessary
or appropriate.
(f) The secretary of state may establish advisory committees to provide advice with respect
to any function of the state archivist or the division. Members of any such committee
shall serve without compensation.
(g) The state archivist shall advise and consult with interested federal, state, and local
agencies with a view to obtaining their advice and assistance in carrying out the
purposes of this chapter.
(h) The state archivist shall provide a public research room where, under policies established
by the division, the materials in the state archives may be studied.
(i) The state archivist shall conduct, promote, and encourage research in Rhode Island
history, government, and culture, and maintain a program of information, assistance,
coordination, and guidance for public officials, educational institutions, libraries,
the scholarly community, and the general public engaged in such research.
(j) The state archivist, with the approval of the secretary of state, shall cooperate
with and, insofar as practicable, assist agencies, libraries, institutions, and individuals
in projects designed to preserve original source materials relating to the state history,
government, and culture, and prepare and publish in cooperation with the public records
administration, handbooks, guides, indexes, and other literature directed toward encouraging
the preservation and use of the state's documentary resources.
(k) — (m) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 127, § 1 and P.L. 2022, ch. 128, § 1.]