1. (a) General powers and responsibilities. The Library and Archives Commission is a six member citizen board appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the Texas Senate. The commission is an agency within the executive branch, but functions independently within its statutory authority to serve the long-term public interest.

2. (b) Powers and responsibilities of the Commission. The Library and Archives Commission is responsible for establishing the policy framework through which the agency carries out its statutory responsibilities. The Commission governs the Texas State Library through the Director and Librarian. The staff of the Texas State Library receive direction from the commission through the Director and Librarian. Specifically, the commission:

   1. (1) adopts administrative rules that guide the staff in administering the Library programs;
   2. (2) approves strategic and operating plans and requests for appropriations;
   3. (3) approves all grants and contracts in excess of $100,000;
   4. (4) oversees operations of the Texas State Library for integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency;
   5. (5) acts as a final board of appeals for staff decisions or advisory board recommendations on grants, accreditation of libraries, certification of librarians, or other issues of concern to the public;
   6. (6) selects the Director and Librarian and approves his selection of the Assistant State Librarian; and
   7. (7) conducts a periodic performance review of the Director and Librarian.

3. (c) Powers and responsibilities of the Director and Librarian. The Director and Librarian is responsible for the effective and efficient administration of the policies established by the commission. Specifically, the Director and Librarian:

   1. (1) selects, organizes, and directs the staff of the library;
   2. (2) establishes the operating budget for the library and allocates funds among strategies, programs, and projects within the limits of statutory authority and as set forth in the General Appropriations Acts of the legislature;
   3. (3) approves expenditures of funds in accordance with law;
   4. (4) represents the commission and reports on behalf of the commission to the governor, legislature, the public, or other organized groups as required;
   5. (5) reports in a timely manner all relevant information first to the chairman and subsequently to all members of the commission, endeavoring to report to members of the commission in such a manner that the members are equally well informed on matters that concern the commission;
   6. (6) delegates his responsibilities to the Assistant State Librarian or other agency staff as appropriate.

Source Note:The provisions of this §2.2 adopted to be effective July 17, 1997, 22 TexReg 6431.