Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) Delegation of Authority to Executive
Director. In addition to any other powers and duties expressly provided by
Federal or State law, the executive director is authorized to perform the
duties or exercise the powers of the commission as described in this section.
The executive director, or his or her designee, is authorized to undertake the
following acts:
(1) contract or otherwise
provide for discovery operations and scientific investigations under the
provisions of §191.053 of the State Antiquities Code;
(2) consider requests for, and issue or deny
permits provided for in §§191.054, 191.095, 191.098, and 191.131 of
the State Antiquities Code;
(3)
contract with other state agencies or political subdivisions and qualified
private institutions, corporations or individuals for curation and/or display
of artifacts in the agency's custody pursuant to §191.058 of the State
Antiquities Code;
(4) apply to any
appropriate agency or officer of the United States for participation in any
federal program pertaining to historic preservation pursuant to Government Code
§
442.005(g);
(5) certify to another state agency the
worthiness of preservation of any historic district, site, structure, or object
significant in Texas or American history, architecture, archeology or culture
pursuant to Government Code §
442.005(h);
(6) conduct educational programs, seminars,
and workshops throughout this state covering any phase of historic preservation
pursuant to Government Code §
442.005(l);
(7) make a report of the Commission's
activities to the Governor and to the legislature at least biennially pursuant
to Government Code §
442.005(n);
(8) participate in the operation of an
affiliated nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise funds for or
provide services or other benefits to the Commission pursuant to Government
Code §
442.005(p);
(9) review and approve or reject the final
form or dimensions of, or text or illustrations on, any marker, monument or
medallion pursuant to Government Code §
442.006;
(10) enter into contracts or cooperative
agreements with the federal government, other state agencies, state or private
museums or educational institutions, or qualified persons, including for-profit
corporations, for prehistoric or historic archeological investigations,
surveys, excavations, or restorations pursuant to Government Code §
442.007(c);
(11) approve construction plans and monitor
work on the Governor's Mansion, its contents and grounds, and manage the
contents of the Mansion including authority to contract with a nonprofit
organization to assist in the preservation and maintenance of the Mansion and
its grounds and contents, pursuant to Government Code §
442.0071;
(12) make the determinations and provide the
notifications required pursuant to Government Code §
442.008 relating to
historic county courthouses;
(13)
select businesses to receive the Texas Business Treasure Award pursuant to
Government Code §
442.020;
(14) lease grazing rights from other parties
for proper livestock management pursuant to Government Code §
442.104;
(15) review bids and qualifications and
provide recommendations to the Texas Facilities Commission before a contract is
awarded for the major repair or renovation of a state structure designated by
the Texas Historical Commission as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark pursuant
to Government Code §
2166.254;
(16) investigate a suspected but unverified
cemetery with the consent of the land owner, under Health and Safety Code
§
711.010;
(17) evaluate a notice of an unverified
cemetery, the evidence submitted with the notice, and the response of the land
owner, if any, and determine whether there is sufficient evidence of the
existence of a cemetery under Health and Safety Code §
711.0111 and
to provide such information and file such notice as is allowed
thereunder;
(18) waive the 60-day
waiting period provided in Government Code §
442.006, or require
an additional waiting period of not longer than 30 days;
(19) administer the County Historical
commission program as described in Local Government Code Chapter 318;
(20) review surface mining permit
applications and submit any necessary comments pursuant to Natural Resources
Code §
131.139;
(21) administer the Tax Credit for Certified
Rehabilitation of Certified Historic Structures as found in Tax Code Chapter
171 Subchapter S including, but not limited to, the issuance of letters of
determination and certificates of eligibility;
(22) certify when a historical name for a
farm-to-market or ranch road has been in common usage for at least 50 years
pursuant to Transportation Code §
225.005;
(23) review and approve plans, programs and
materials relating to historical interpretation of the State Cemetery pursuant
to Government Code §
2165.2561;
(24) contract with one or more nonprofit
organizations to fulfill the Commission's duties to administer the Texas
Heritage Trails Program pursuant to Government Code §
442.0045;
(25) determine whether or not a governmental
entity's landmark ordinance meets the requirements of the Certified Local
Government program pursuant to Government Code Subtitle Z Chapter 3000;
(26) hire, terminate, assign
duties of, evaluate performance of, reward, and set salaries of Texas
Historical Commission staff other than the Executive Director;
(27) manage the agency's operating budget,
including making adjustments not to exceed 20% of the appropriation for any
agency strategy;
(28) request
representation on behalf of the Texas Historical Commission from the Office of
the Attorney General;
(29) request
an opinion of the Attorney General pursuant to Texas Government Code §
402.042 on legal
issues;
(30) negotiate and contract
for services relating to a commission project for a historic site and for
construction, restoration, renovation or preservation of any building,
structure or landscape related to historic sites under Government Code §
402.101;
(31) execute documents
necessary for the operation and administration of the agency or necessary to
carry out the statutory authority of the agency including but not limited to
personnel action forms, timesheets, performance evaluations, hotel/restaurant
contracts, telecommuting agreements, contracts and contract revisions,
Memorandums of Understanding, Memorandums of Agreement, and Inter-Agency
Contracts;
(32) execute documents
carrying out decisions of the Commission, including but not limited to grant
contracts, Historic Texas Cemetery certifications, curatorial facility
certifications, contracts and contract amendments, and notification letters;
and
(33) request a letter ruling
from the Attorney General under Texas Government Code § 551.301 concerning
the disclosure of information upon the receipt of a request under the Texas
Public Information Act.
(b) This rule does not limit the express
powers and responsibilities granted to the executive director in the Texas
Government Code or as otherwise set forth in the rules of the commission. The
commission's delegation of authority to the executive director under this rule
does not divest the commission of that delegated authority, and the commission
retains the ability to exercise all powers delegated to it by law when the
commission deems it necessary or appropriate to carry out the functions of the
commission. This rule does not limit the commission's power to delegate
authority to the executive director by order.