RCHC Texas Local Government Code

TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE
Chapter 318
Subchapter A. County Historical Commission
(See Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes, Article 6145.1)

Sec. 318.001. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" means the county historical commission.
Sec. 318.002. ESTABLISHMENT. The commissioners court of a county may appoint a county historical commission for the purpose of initiating and conducting programs suggested by the commissioners court and the Texas Historical Commission for the preservation of the historical heritage of the county.
Sec. 318.003. COMPOSITION: TERM. (a) The commission must be composed of at least seven residents of the county. (b) The members of the commission shall be appointed during the month of January of odd-numbered years and are appointed for a term of two years.
Sec. 318.004. APPOINTMENT BY STATE. If the commissioners court fails to appoint a commission by April 1 of each odd-numbered year, the Texas Historical Commission may appoint the commission after 30 days' written notice to the commissioners court of its intention to do so.
Sec. 318.005. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at least once each year at the county seat and may meet as often as the commission may determine under rules adopted by it for its own regulation.
Sec. 318.006. CONTINUING SURVEY; COUNTY REGISTER. (a) The commission shall institute and carry out a continuing survey of the county to determine the existence of historical buildings and other historical sites, private collections of historical memorabilia, or other historical features within the county, and shall report the data collected to the commissioners court and the Texas Historical Commission. (b) The commission shall compile the data in a county register of historical places and memorabilia.
Sec. 318.007. HISTORICAL TRAIL. The Commission, with the approval of the commissioners court, may designate as a historical trail any road or highway route that links historical sites in the county and may designate certain areas of the county as special areas of historical interest.
Sec. 318.008. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission shall make an annual report of its activities and recommendations simultaneously to the commissioners court and to the Texas Historical Commission before the end of each calendar year. The commission may make as many other reports and recommendations as it see fit. (b) The commission shall make recommendations to the commissioners court and the Texas Historical Commission concerning the acquisition of property, real or person, that is of historical significance.
Sec. 318.009. EXPENSES. The commissioners court may pay the necessary expenses of the commission.
Sec. 318.010. OPERATION OF MUSEUM. The commission may: (1) operate and manage any museum owned or leased by the county; (2) acquire artifacts and other museum paraphernalia in the name of the museum or the commission; and (3) supervise any employees hired by the commissioners court to operate the museum.
Sec. 318.011. MARKERS; COLLECTIONS; COUNTY HISTORY. The commissioners court may make agreements with government agencies and private organizations and may appropriate funds from the general fund of the county for the purpose of: (1) erecting historical markers, monuments, and medallions; (2) purchasing objects and collections of objects of any kind that are historically significant to the county; and (3) preparing, publishing, and disseminating, by sale or otherwise, a history of the county.
Sec. 318.012. HISTORIC SITE TAX EXEMPTION. (a) The commissioners court may establish a program under which the commission: (1) receives and reviews applications that are filed with the county and that request a property tax exemption under Section 11.24, Tax Code; and (2) recommends to the commissioners court whether to grant the exemption and, if the grant of the exemption is recommended, how much of the property's assessed value should be exempt from taxation. (b) The commission may examine the property that is granted the exemption on recommendation of the commission and recommend to the commissioners court whether the exemption should be withdrawn because of changed circumstances involving the property. (c) A person is entitled to appear before the commissioners court and state any objections to a recommendation made by the commission under this section regarding property owned by the person. (d) The commissioners court may require a person whose property is granted the exemption to notify the commission of any plans the person may have to modernize the property or change it in any other manner.
Sec. 318.013. CONTRACTS FOR LEASE OR MANAGEMENT OF LANDMARKS. (a) The commissioners court may, on recommendation of the commission or other interested persons, contract with a private person for the lease or management of any county-owned real estate or structure that is designated by the Texas Historical Commission as a Recorded Texas Landmark considered worthy of preservation because of its history, culture, or architecture. (b) The contract must be drawn in consultation with the commission and must specify the duties of the contracting party, including duties as to: (1) maintenance and repairs; (2) providing public access; (3) restricting inappropriate commercial uses; and (4) promoting preservation of the historic, cultural, or architectural aspects of the landmark. (c) The contract may be handled in the same manner as a contract for professional services rendered to a county, such as a contract for architectural or engineering services, if the contract is with a nonprofit organization chartered in this state. (d) The contract may be for a period of years as determined by the commissioners court.