TITLE 13.CULTURAL RESOURCES

Part 2. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION

Chapter 26. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

13 TAC §26.15, §26.27

The Texas Historical Commission adopts the amendments to §26.15 and §26.27, concerning Memoranda of Understanding and Agreement (MOU), and Disposition of Archeological Artifacts and Data, without change to the proposed text as published in the August 27, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 6603).

Section 26.15 was amended because the THC and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have agreed to modifications to the existing MOU between the two agencies.

Section 26.27 was amended to change the final due date for which curatorial facilities must be accredited to hold artifacts collected under Antiquities Permits.

One comment was received regarding adoption of the proposed amendments. The following is the comment, the commission's response, and any resulting change(s) to the chapter.

Comment: Regarding §26.27, the commenter stated that she believed that the proposed date of December 31, 2002, for curation facilities to become accredited by the Council of Texas Archeologists was too soon a date for some facilities, and that this date should be pushed back to 2005.

Response: The commission believes that the 2002 date will provide sufficient time for all facilities in the state, but the commission will also monitor the situation over the next two years and determine how to deal with the needs of some facilities that might need more time. No change was made as a result of this comment.

The amendments are adopted under §442.005(q), Title 13 Part II of the Texas Government Code, and §191.052 of the Texas Natural Resources Code, which provides the Texas Historical Commission with the authority to promulgate rules and conditions to reasonably effect the purposes of this chapter.

These adopted amendments also implement §442.005(b) of the Texas Government Code and §191.051 of the Texas Natural Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 20, 2000.

TRD-200000387

F. Lawrence Oaks

Executive Director

Texas Historical Commission

Effective date: February 9, 2000

Proposal publication date: August 27, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-5711