California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2674


Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chiu and Holden)

(Coauthor: Senator Roth)

February 19, 2016


An act to add Section 12234 to the Government Code, relating to state archives.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2674, as introduced, Bonta. State archives: Online Archives Program.

Existing law establishes the Secretary of State as the custodian of the public archives of the State and requires him or her to maintain and properly equip safe and secure vaults for the preservation, indexing, and use of the archives. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of State to receive into the archives any item that he or she deems to be of historical value.

This bill would require the Secretary of State to establish an Online Archives Program to be administered by the State Archives for the purpose of providing public access to state records and other records and items of historical and archival value, as specified. The bill would require the program to include, among other things, development, administration, and maintenance of an archival standards-based digital records preservation system for secure intake of, preservation of, indexing of, and public access to, public records.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 12234 is added to the Government Code,
2to read:

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12234.  

(a) The Secretary of State shall establish an Online
4Archives Program to be administered by the State Archives for
5the purpose of providing public access to state records and other
6records and items of historical and archival value.

7(b) The Online Archives Program shall include, but not be
8limited to, all of the following:

9(1) Developing, administering, and maintaining an archival
10standards-based digital records preservation system for secure
11intake of, preservation of, indexing of, and public access to, public
12records. This system shall comply with the California Public
13Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of
14Division 7 of Title 1) and the State Records Management Act
15(Article 7 (commencing with Section 12270) of Chapter 3 of Part
162 of Division 3 of Title 2).

17(2) Providing online access to the records, photographs, exhibits,
18and other items held by the State Archives that document and
19celebrate California history and culture by digitizing content and
20uploading it to an appropriate online platform that will maximize
21public access and be linked to the State Archives Internet Web
22site.

23(3) Utilizing social media platforms to regularly share digitized
24content in order to celebrate California history and culture, provide
25a historical perspective on contemporary issues and events, increase
26public awareness of the historical resources in the State Archives
27collections, and promote civic education and civic engagement.



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