(a) Acquisition of Collections.
  (1) Acquisition of state associated collections is the process of acquiring a collection or historical item owned by the State of Texas through designation of a curatorial facility by the Commission. Collections or historical items usually are acquired through field work or research, donation, bequest, or purchase. Although exchange with or transfer from another curatorial facility normally is not practiced, it is not excluded. Acquisition does not imply accessioning, but is a necessary prerequisite for accessions. Acquired collections or historical items placed at a designated curatorial facility are recommended for accessioning through the process governed by the written Collections Management Policy of the curatorial facility.
  (2) Responsibility for the physical safety of the collection or historical item begins with acquisition. While the Commission has oversight, physical safety responsibility is delegated to the permittee during recovery and analysis of permitted collections, and the designated curatorial facility upon receiving a state-associated collection.
(b) Accessions.
  (1) Accessioning by the curatorial facility is the procedure that registers state-associated collections as held-in-trust for the State of Texas at the designated curatorial facility.
    (A) Title will remain with the State and under the custody of the Commission.
    (B) The curatorial facility will execute a held-in-trust agreement for each state-associated collection and forward it to the Commission. Stewardship and held-in-trust status are conferred when the Commission receives the signed held-in-trust agreement.
    (C) State-associated collections placed at designated curatorial facilities are not incorporated into the holdings of a designated curatorial facility until they are accessioned by that institution.
    (D) Upon accessioning of state-associated collections placed at the curatorial facility, the facility assumes the obligation of proper daily management and protection of those collections. The Commission retains oversight of the placed state-associated collections.
    (E) Accessioning provides an inventory of collections and historical items owned by the State of Texas under the authority of the Commission. Accession numbers document curatorial facility stewardship and are an inventory control device.
  (2) For collections or historical items placed at a designated curatorial facility, the following requirements apply:
    (A) All collections or historical items will be accessioned and accessioned in a timely manner by the designated curatorial facility. Stewardship but not ownership is transferred to the designated curatorial facility.
    (B) The curatorial facility will use a consistent accession system that readily identifies or distinguishes an accession of that curatorial facility from accessions of other curatorial facilities holding state-associated collections.
    (C) A signed held-in-trust agreement must be executed for each accession with copies retained by the Commission and designated curatorial facility. Each held-in-trust agreement is accompanied by an accessions inventory.
    (D) Accession records must be maintained by the designated curatorial facility, including the copy of the signed held-in-trust agreement, accessions inventory, and as appropriate, the housing agreement between the curatorial facility and cultural resource management firm or researcher for permitted collections.
    (E) Copies of correspondence and transactions involving state-associated collections donated to or purchased by the Commission will be provided to the designated curatorial facility as part of their accession records.
(c) Deaccession.
  (1) The decision to deaccession state-associated held-in-trust objects or collections is ultimately the responsibility of the Commission. Deaccessioning may affect a range of objects from a single object to an entire collection. The curatorial facility will deaccession state-associated collections only in accordance with Commission requirements.
  (2) If deaccessioning is for the purpose of transfer or exchange, the State retains title to the object or collection. A new held-in-trust agreement will be executed between the curatorial facility and the Commission. If deaccessioning is due to theft or loss, the State will retain title to the object or collection in case it is ever recovered, but the curatorial facility will no longer be responsible for the object or collection. If deaccessioning is due to deterioration or damage beyond repair or stabilization, the State relinquishes title to the object or collection and the object or collection must be divested in a suitable manner.
  (3) Authority to deal with deaccessioning of approved categories of objects and samples from state-associated held-in-trust collections is delegated to a curatorial facility certified by the Commission through an agreement between the Commission and the curatorial facility.
    (A) Annual reports will be submitted to the Commission on these deaccessioning actions.
    (B) If the Commission determines that the curatorial facility is not in compliance with the agreement and this chapter, the agreement may be terminated. If the agreement is terminated, the Commission will review and decide on all deaccession actions of that curatorial facility concerning state-associated held-in-trust objects and samples. A new agreement may be executed at such time as the Commission determines that the curatorial facility has come into compliance with this chapter. During the period the agreement is terminated, the curatorial facility may not accept new state-associated collections.
  (4) Curatorial facilities not certified by the Commission shall submit written deaccession requests of objects and samples from held-in-trust collections to the Commission.
  (5) Requests to deaccession a state-associated collection in its entirety must be submitted to the Commission.
  (6) Under no circumstances will state-associated collections be deaccessioned through sale.
(d) Inventory.
  (1) Purpose of inventories.
    (A) An inventory is an important practice for the curatorial facility.
    (B) Inventories will be conducted to provide a measure of accountability.
    (C) An inventory updates collection records and documentation; gives the opportunity to check the condition of the collections; and aids in maintaining the security of the collections.
    (D) Inventories allow the curatorial facilities to examine, evaluate, and provide appropriate conditions for the state-associated collections.
    (E) The curatorial facility fulfills, in part, its legal and ethical responsibilities by conducting inventories that account for the objects, samples, documentation, or historical items within state-associated collections.
  (2) Inventories by a Curatorial Facility. For collections or historical items placed at a designated curatorial facility, the following requirements apply. Inventories for state-associated collections include the following:
    (A) An accessions inventory is conducted at the time of accessioning when a collection or historical item is placed at the designated curatorial facility. This baseline inventory is comprised of the categories represented in the collection, quantities, and linear feet of documentation as appropriate.
    (B) A spot-check inventory is conducted to monitor collection activity, check the accuracy of records, and assess the condition of the most valuable or significant material in a collection. This type of inventory should be conducted on a periodic basis according to the collections management policy of the designated curatorial facility.
    (C) A relocation inventory is conducted at any time an object, collection, or historical item experiences movement. This movement may occur in the form of incoming or outgoing loans, in-house research, exhibit installation, conservation, or deaccessions.
  (3) The Director of the curatorial facility is responsible for maintaining the inventory of the state-associated held-in-trust collections and for seeing that appropriate and timely inventories are conducted. The types and frequency of inventories must be outlined in the curatorial facility's collections management policy. Accessions inventories must be conducted and included as part of the held-in-trust agreement. A relocation inventory must be conducted and included as part of the loan agreement of state-associated held-in-trust collections. Spot check inventory must be conducted as a part of collection management activities. Other types of inventories should be conducted to provide tracking and security information as necessary.
  (4) An accurate listing of all state associated held-in-trust collections and the sites they represent, must be conducted and updated and a copy sent to the Commission.
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