The commission must carry out listed library, records, and public-information duties, and it may perform several funding and partnership activities.
Sec. 441.006. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The commission shall: (1) govern the Texas State Library; (2) adopt policies and rules to aid and encourage the development of and cooperation among all types of libraries, including public, academic, special, and other types of libraries; (3) aid those studying problems to be dealt with by legislation; (4) prepare and make available to the public and appropriate state agencies information of public interest describing the functions of the commission; (5) deposit money paid to the commission under this chapter subject to Subchapter F, Chapter 404; (6) give to any person contemplating the establishment of a public library advice regarding matters such as maintaining a public library, selecting books, cataloging, and managing a library; (7) conduct library institutes and encourage library associations; (8) take custody of, preserve, and make available for public use state records and other historical resources that document the history and culture of Texas as a province, colony, republic, or state; (9) prepare and make available to the public a complete list of every state symbol and place designation, including state symbols and place designations made in accordance with Chapter 391; (10) aid and encourage, by adoption of policies and programs, the development of effective records management and preservation programs in state agencies and the local governments of the state; and (11) provide library services to persons with disabilities in cooperation with the federal government. (b) The commission may: (1) purchase, as state property, any suitable book, picture, or similar item, within the limits of the annual legislative appropriation; (2) receive a donation or gift of money, property, or services on any terms and conditions it considers proper as long as the state does not incur financial liability; (3) accept, receive, and administer federal funds made available by grant or loan to improve the public libraries of this state; (4) contract or agree with the governing body or head of a county, city, or town of this state to meet the terms prescribed by the United States and consistent with state law for the expenditure of federal funds for improving public libraries; (5) participate in the establishment and operation of an affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise funds for or provide services or other benefits to the commission; and (6) use general revenue, grants, donations, gifts, and, if authorized by federal law, federal funds to advertise and promote commission programs and increase participation in and awareness of those programs. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1248, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 86, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1108, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 873, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 395, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 251 (S.B. 913), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 983 (H.B. 3756), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (H.B. 1962), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2019.