Sec. 51.903. ARCHIVES; CERTIFIED COPIES

(a) The commissioners court of any county or any other custodian of public records may lend to the library of any state-supported institution of higher education, for any period and on any conditions it may determine, any parts of its archives or records that have become mainly of historical value. The librarian shall give a receipt for any archives or records received. The librarian may make copies for historical study.

(b) The librarian and the archivist of any state-supported institution of higher education are authorized to make certified copies of public records in the custody of the institution. These certified copies are valid in law and have the same force and effect for all purposes as if certified by the county clerk or other custodian as otherwise provided by law. In making a certified copy, the librarian or archivist shall certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the document, and after signing the certificate shall swear to it before any officer authorized to take oaths under the laws of this state.

(c) Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Texas State Librarian concerning public records as currently or later granted by law.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 3072, ch. 1024, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1971.