Section 149.31. Archives administration for the state

(A) The Ohio history connection , in addition to its other functions, shall function as the state archives administration for the state and its political subdivisions.

It shall be the function of the state archives administration to preserve government archives, documents, and records of historical value that may come into its possession from public or private sources.

The archives administration shall evaluate, preserve, arrange, service repair, or make other disposition of, including transfer to public libraries, county historical societies, state universities, or other public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations, those public records of the state and its political subdivisions that may come into its possession under this section. Those public records shall be transferred by written agreement only, and only to public or quasi-public institutions, agencies, or corporations capable of meeting accepted archival standards for housing and use.

The archives administration shall be headed by a trained archivist designated by the Ohio history connection and shall make its services available to county, municipal, township, school district, library, and special taxing district records commissions upon request. The archivist shall be designated as the "state archivist."

(B) The archives administration may purchase or procure for itself, or authorize the board of trustees of an archival institution to purchase or procure, from an insurance company licensed to do business in this state policies of insurance insuring the administration or the members of the board and their officers, employees, and agents against liability on account of damage or injury to persons and property resulting from any act or omission of the board members, officers, employees, and agents in their official capacity.

(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the archives administration may establish a fee schedule, which may include the cost of labor, for researching, retrieving, copying, and mailing copies of public records in the state archives. Revisions to the fee schedule shall be subject to approval by the board of trustees of the Ohio history connection.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 141, §1, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003; 2006 HB9 09-29-2007