Title 42, Title 42 Affairs and Government

(a) When any copy or reproduction, furnished under the terms hereof, is authenticated by the official seal and certified by the state archivist, the copy or reproduction shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original from which it was made. (b) The state archivist or any…

With respect to letters and other intellectual productions (exclusive of material copyrighted or patented) after they come into the custody or possession of the state archivist, neither the division, the state, nor its agents shall be liable for any infringement of literary prior…

The state archivist may charge a fee set to recover the costs for making or authenticating copies or reproductions of materials transferred to the state archivist’s custody. This fee shall be fixed by the secretary of state, at a level that will recover, so far as practicable, al…

(a) The secretary of state shall submit to the governor, the general assembly, and the state publications clearinghouse an annual report concerning the administration of functions of the state archivist and the division. The report may include a yearly preservation plan for addre…

It shall be the duty of each agency of the state and political subdivision thereof to: (1) Assist in the creation of record control schedules containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions o…

Any officer or employee who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year.

The invalidity of any section or part or portion of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections or parts thereof.

For the purpose of this chapter: (1) “Agency” or “public body” means any executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative body of the state or any political subdivision thereof; including, but not limited to the leadership of the general assembly, chairperson in the h…

(a) There is hereby established a special fund to be known as the Rhode Island Historical Records Trust (hereinafter called Trust). (b) There is hereby imposed an additional assessment of four dollars ($4.00) for every instrument filed for recording pursuant to §§ 33-22-21 and 34…

(a) There shall be an establishment known as “the archives of the state of Rhode Island”, also referred to in this chapter as “the state archives” or “the division”. (b) The state archives shall be a division of the department of state, as mandated by § 42-8-19. (c) Except as pro…

(a) The chief administrative officer of the division shall be the state archivist. (b) The state archivist shall be appointed by the secretary of state: The state archivist shall be appointed based upon the professional qualifications required to perform the duties and responsibi…

(a) The state archivist under the direction of the secretary of state shall be responsible for the proper administration of permanent records, including public records with a minimum retention of twenty (20) years, possessing enduring value pursuant to § 38-3-6. It shall be the s…

(a) The secretary of state is authorized to select, appoint, and employ unclassified officers and employees, as are necessary to perform the functions of the state archivist and the division. (b) The secretary of state is authorized to obtain the services of experts and consultan…

(a) The state archivist, whenever it appears to the state archivist to be in the public interest, is hereby authorized: (1) To accept for deposit with the state archives the permanent records of any state or local agency, general officer, or of the general assembly; (2) To provid…

The division of state archives and every other custodian of public records shall carefully protect and preserve them from deterioration, mutilation, loss, or destruction and, whenever advisable, shall cause them to be properly repaired and restored.

The state archivist, in person or through a deputy, shall have the right of reasonable access to all public records in the state, or any public offices or general officers of the state or any city, municipality, district, or political subdivision thereof, and research, with a vie…