Begin with the End in Mind: A Records Management & Archives ...

Chapter 2
The Authority of Archives
Under Texas Government Code § 441.006, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
must identify, take custody of, preserve and make available for public use state records
and other historical resources that document the history and culture of Texas. The staff of the
State Archives has determined that many of the records produced by the Texas
Legislature, particularly the records of individual legislators, committees and the
administrative arms, provide uniquely valuable insight into and documentation of the role
and development of Texas law and government. Therefore, according to law, when you
leave office, certain records created or received and maintained by you and your staff
during your term of service must be transferred to the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission.
Records of the legislative and executive branches of state government and local government
records held by the State Archives are subject to the provisions of Chapter 552 of the Texas
Government Code, also known as the Public Information Act. The Act makes records open
for research with certain exceptions.
"The people, in delegating authority, do not
give their public servants the right to decide
what is good for the people to know and
what is not good for them to know. The
people insist on remaining informed so that
they may retain control over the
instruments they have created."
—from Texas Statutes, Government Code,
§552.001
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