2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 37 - HISTORICAL AND MUSEUMS › Chapter 3 - Powers and Duties of Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission › Section 305 - Documents

§ 305. Documents.
The commission shall have the power and duty to:
(1) Research on Commonwealth documents.--
Examine and copy or microfilm any public records within the control of a Commonwealth agency for the purposes of historical research.
(1.1) Administer the State Archives.--
Oversee and administer the State Archives, which shall be the official State repository for the permanent and historically valuable public records of the Commonwealth that are transferred to the commission.
(2) Preservation of public records.--
Preserve all public records throughout this Commonwealth and give special attention to the preservation of all records of the Commonwealth not in current use and of historical value; negotiate for the transfer and receipt of public records from any Commonwealth agency or political subdivision; and provide for the disposition of records not needed or useful in the transaction of current or anticipated future work of the Commonwealth under section 524 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929. The commission shall be the legal custodian of any public records transferred to it by any Commonwealth agency or political subdivision. The head of any Commonwealth agency or political subdivision may transfer to the commission public records legally in his custody not needed for the transaction of the business of the office whenever the commission is willing to receive and care for them.
(3) Management of historical documents.--
Collect, classify, preserve and make available for reference all records which may come into its possession with the exceptions indicated by the commission; and examine the condition of the public records, books, pamphlets, documents, manuscripts, archives, maps and papers filed or recorded in any Commonwealth agency or political subdivision. The executive director or any employees authorized by him shall have reasonable access to all public records in this Commonwealth for the purpose of examining them and shall report to the commission on their condition.
(4) Regulation of Commonwealth records.--
Recommend such action be taken by the persons having the care and custody of public records as may be necessary to secure their safety and preservation; cause all laws relating to public records to be enforced; and recommend and enforce uniform standards governing the use of paper, ink and filing procedure for all records and papers of Commonwealth agencies and political subdivisions that are considered of permanent historical importance.
(5) Certificates relating to public records.--
Furnish certificates relating to public records, or copies thereof, upon the payment of fees established by the commission or otherwise fixed by law.
(6) Land records.--
Maintain and preserve:
(i) Records of the first titles acquired by the proprietaries and the Commonwealth to all the lands within its boundaries.
(ii) Records of all lands and conveyances from the proprietaries and the Commonwealth to the purchasers of the land.
(iii) Papers relating to the surveys of this Commonwealth and county lines and the reports of commissioners relating to the boundary lines of this Commonwealth.
(iv) Maps and other papers pertaining to the colonial history of this Commonwealth.
(v) Contracts, section profile maps and other records relating to public works.
(vi) All other relevant records relating to titles of real estate acquired by the Commonwealth.
(7) Protection and recovery of Commonwealth records.--
Maintain and preserve Commonwealth records in accordance with its powers and duties under section 305.1 (relating to Commonwealth archival records).
(8) Protection and recovery of local government records.--
Maintain and preserve local government records in accordance with its powers and duties under section 305.2 (relating to local government archival records).
(9) Access to older public records.--
Ensure access to older public records in accordance with its powers and duties under section 305.3 (relating to access to older public records).
(Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1665, No.102, eff. 60 days)