SLS 17RS-2198 ENGROSSED
2017 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 117
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
HISTORIC PRESERVATION. Creates the Louisiana Historical Archives Task Force.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To create and provide for the Louisiana Historical Archives Task Force to study the
3 conditions, issues, needs, and problems relative to the preservation of the state's
4 historical archives and records and to recommend any action or legislation that the
5 task force deems necessary or appropriate.
6 WHEREAS, the history of Louisiana stretches back centuries and its cultural heritage
7 includes the original Native American inhabitants as well as the descendants of settlers from
8 almost every nationality on earth who have contributed to the unique food, music, and art
9 of the state; and
10 WHEREAS, emerging from this rich and varied history are treasures of print, visual,
11 audio, and digital records of the many faces, lives, and experiences of the people of the state;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, it is vital that such records be preserved so that future generations may
14 know, understand, and celebrate Louisiana's important place in world history; and
15 WHEREAS, experts on archiving of historical records should evaluate the efforts,
16 methods, and techniques that are currently being utilized and should evaluate the efforts that
17 other states, museums, and archives are undertaking to preserve treasured historical records
18 and should recommend an appropriate archiving system to Louisiana so they are readily
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1 accessible to the public.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
3 create the Louisiana Historical Archives Task Force to study the conditions, needs, issues,
4 and problems relative to the preservation of precious print, visual, audio, and digital
5 historical records and to recommend any action or legislation that the commission deems
6 necessary or appropriate.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force created herein shall consist of the
8 following thirteen members:
9 (1) Two members of the Senate appointed by the president, one who shall be
10 designated by the president as the chairperson.
11 (2) Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker.
12 (3) The lieutenant governor, or his designee.
13 (4) The secretary of state, or his designee.
14 (5) The secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, or his
15 designee.
16 (6) The executive director of Preserve Louisiana, or his designee.
17 (7) The executive director of the Historic New Orleans Collection, or his designee.
18 (8) The secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, or his designee.
19 (9) The commissioner of higher education, or his designee.
20 (10) The president of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, or his designee.
21 (11) The commissioner of administration, or his designee.
22 (12) The head of the Louisiana Research Collection at Tulane University.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting such study, the task force shall
24 study current technologies, methods, and policy in Louisiana and other states, and shall elicit
25 views from experts in the fields of preservation, archiving, collecting, and storing of
26 historical records and documents.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve
28 without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
29 individually entitled as members of the constituent organizations.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
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1 constitute a quorum of the task force, and any official action taken by the task force shall
2 require an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may conduct such meetings at
4 such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
5 effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this
6 Resolution.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall make a report of its findings
8 and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, to the legislature
9 no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2018 Regular Session.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force shall terminate on March 1, 2018.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by McHenry Lee.
DIGEST
SCR 117 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Walsworth
Creates the Louisiana Historical Archives Task Force.
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