PART 2. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
CHAPTER 16. HISTORIC SITES
The Texas Historical Commission (hereafter referred to as the "Commission") proposes amendments to §16.3 of Title 13, Part 2, Chapter 16 of the Texas Administrative Code, concerning historic sites. These amendments are needed as part of the Commission's overall effort to clarify language in order to implement necessary updates, additions, and changes to more precisely reflect the procedures of the historic sites division.
The rule amends the current two-phase process and creates a three-phase process within the updated State Historic Sites Historic Properties Collection Plan for the evaluation of a historic property. The amendments provide the criteria to be used in preliminary staff evaluations and defines a process to more effectively evaluate properties and contain costs.
FISCAL NOTE. There will be no fiscal impact. The proposed revisions to the process of historic site evaluation will minimize the fiscal impact and contain costs in evaluating potential properties and be more cost effective to the state. Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, has determined that for the first five-year period the amended rule is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the rule as proposed.
PUBLIC BENEFIT/COST NOTE. The benefit to the public will be achieved by providing an improved and enhanced structured approach in property evaluations. The proposed new three step procedure will insure that the process is the most effective and efficient in the deployment of state resources. Mr. Wolfe has also determined that for each year of the first five-year period the amended rule is in effect, the public benefit will be a clearer statement of the criteria to be used in evaluating potential historic sites and a more clearly defined process.
ECONOMIC COSTS TO PERSONS AND IMPACT ON LOCAL EMPLOYMENT. There are no anticipated economic costs to persons who are required to comply with the amendments to the rule as proposed. There is no effect on the local economy for the first five years that the proposed amendments are in effect; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022 and 2001.024(a)(6).
COSTS TO REGULATED PERSONS. The proposed amendments do not impose a cost on regulated persons or entities; therefore, they are not subject to Texas Government Code, §2001.0045.
ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT AND REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, MICROBUSINESSES, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. The proposed rule amendments provide an opportunity for the historic sites division to operate more strategically in assessing properties with a preliminary in-house first step to determine if further investment of state resources is required in any property assessment. There is no anticipated economic impact of these amendments to the rule. Mr. Wolfe has also determined that there will be no negative impact on rural communities, small or micro-businesses because of implementing the rule amendments and therefore no regulatory flexibility analysis, as specified in Texas Government Code §2006.002, is required. There are no anticipated economic costs to the public in compliance with the amendments to the rule, as proposed.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT STATEMENT. During the first five years that the amendments would be in effect, the proposed amendments: will not create or eliminate a government program; will not result in the addition or reduction of employees; will not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations; will not lead to an increase or decrease in fees paid to a state agency; will not create a new regulation; will not repeal an existing regulation; and will not result in an increase or decrease in the number of individuals subject to the rule. During the first five years that the amendments would be in effect, the proposed amendments will not positively or adversely affect the Texas economy.
TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT. THC has determined that no private real property interests are affected by this proposal and the proposal does not restrict or limit an owner's right to his or her property that would otherwise exist in the absence of government action and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under Texas Government Code §2007.043.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Joseph Bell, Deputy Executive Director of Historic Sites, Texas Historical Commission, P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas 78711. Comments will be accepted for 30 days after publication in the Texas Register.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY. These amendments are proposed under the authority of Texas Government Code§442.005(q), which provides the Commission with the authority to promulgate rules to reasonably affect the purposes of the Commission; Texas Government Code §§442.0057 and 442.0058, which allow the Commission to accept donations of land or sell or exchange land; and Texas Government Code §442.0053(a), which provides that the Commission by rule shall adopt the criteria to determine to the eligibility for the inclusion of real property into the state historic sites system.
CROSS REFERENCE TO STATUTE. Texas Government Code §442.0053(a) provides the Commission with the authority to adopt the criteria to determine to the eligibility for real property's inclusion into the state historic sites system and Texas Government Code §442.0056(a) provides the Commission with the authority to acquire historic sites. No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this new rule.
§16.3.Addition of Historic Sites to the Texas Historical Commission Historic Sites Program.
(a) Criteria. The addition of new Historic Sites will
follow the "State Historic Sites Historic Properties Collection
Plan" in a three-step process ["Historic Sites Division
Property Collection Plan"] as posted on the Texas Historical
Commission's (Commission) website at thc.texas.gov detailing
themes and subthemes in Texas history, site assessment, operational
and managerial evaluations processes and the following criteria:
(1) The property must have recognized statewide or national significance based on the standards of the National Register of Historic Places.
(2) The property should be able to provide interpretation of a significant theme or event of Texas history that is not fully represented by the Commission's existing historic sites or other historic sites accessible to the public. The Commission will strive to maintain a geographic, cultural and thematic balance in its program.
(3) The property should have exceptional integrity of location (including surrounding environment), design, material, setting, feeling, and association.
(4) The property should have appropriate collections (objects, manuscript material, artifacts) associated with the historic site or necessary artifacts related to the site's history and period of significance should be identified and available.
(5) The property must be appropriate for use as an interpretive museum or historic site, have high potential to attract and accommodate diverse and new audiences, and be accessible to travelers as well as to the local community.
(6) The property must be available without restrictions that would limit the Commission's options for preservation and interpretation as a historic site (for example, a life estate retained by the grantor, restrictions against future sale or conveyance, or limits on alterations deemed appropriate by the Commission). The Commission encourages the use of easements or other restrictions to ensure the preservation of historic sites.
(7) Financial resources must be available or assured, including an endowment fund where appropriate, or sources of funding must be identified in a comprehensive funding plan to ensure the restoration, interpretation, development, long term operation and preservation of the site.
(8) The property must have the potential for strong supporting partnerships including community support.
(b) Evaluation Process. To evaluate the site against
these criteria, the Commission will follow a three[two]-step
process as follows.
(1) In phase one, staff will determine if the property should be recommended to be added to the Commission's portfolio of State Historic Sites. The preliminary evaluation will briefly address the following issues:
(A) Where is the property located?
(B) What is the current condition of the property?
(C) What improvements would need to be made to meet THC standards for visitor access, experience, and safety?
(D) What is the importance of the property in Texas and/or American History?
(E) That is the estimation of the property's value, strategically, operationally and culturally?
(F) Are there resources such as artifact collections or endowment that accompany the property?
(G) Are there resources available to adequately interpret the property's themes and stories to the public?
(H) Are the necessary resources available to preserve and care for the property's physical infrastructure and collections?
(I) Does THC have the financial and FTE resources to operate the property?
(J) What is the property's potential for the generation of sustainable visitation and revenue?
(2) [(1)]Phase 2. If the
property is recommended for additional study, a [A]
staff committee will be assigned [appointed]
to conduct a preliminary review of the property with reference to
criteria noted in subsection (a) of this section. The committee will
make a recommendation to the Commission whether to proceed with the development of a historic site management plan in phase three of the[second step] evaluation process.
(3) [(2)] Staff will obtain and
use the following information in phase two:
(A) A description of the property, including land, structures and other features.
(B) A preliminary inventory of collections and equipment.
(C) A statement of significance or reference to its designation on the National Register of Historic Places/National Historic Landmark and an evaluation of the site's integrity.
(D) A statement from the current owner indicating a willingness to transfer the real and relevant personal property and the terms and conditions for such a transfer.
(E) Needed and available funding for development costs and continuing operational costs.
(F) Letters of support from interested parties, including an indication of willingness to create an appropriate support group.
(G) A statement identifying how the property would support the educational mission of the Historic Sites Program to serve a broad and diverse audience.
(H) A preliminary estimate of the visitation and costs for development and operation of the site.
(4) [(3)] Phase 3. Upon
positive action by the Commission on the recommendation noted in paragraph (2) [(1)] of this subsection, the staff will prepare
or have prepared a management plan in phase three for the site's evaluation [site] including:
(A) Evaluation of the site, including but not limited to buildings, support facilities, infrastructure (including roads, trails, utility service/water and sewer systems), landscape features, and collections.
(B) Required staffing and services for operation
of the site, including ongoing costs of preservation, operation, maintenance
and marketing.[Merits of the proposed site compared to
other sites in Texas that embody the same or similar historical or
physical characteristics.]
(C) Preservation and facility development needs.
(D) Costs and timeline for making the property available to the public.
(E) Required staffing and consultant services
for development of the site.[ Any limitation on site development,
such as environmental regulations and local restrictions (zoning,
land use).]
(F) Projected audience/annual visitation, sources
of funding to support programming including community partnerships,
potential earned revenue, philanthropic and endowment. [Needed
staffing and consultant services for development of the site.]
[(G) Needed staffing and services
for operation of the site, including ongoing costs of preservation
operation, and marketing.]
[(H) Business plan for the site identifying projected audience/annual visitation, sources of funds for all aspects of the program including available community support, potential to generate revenue, and endowment.]
(5) [(4)]The management [This] plan will be reviewed by a panel of experts including
an independent Texas historian, museum professional, and expert in
heritage tourism and their recommendation will be taken into consideration
by the Commission to determine whether the property should be accepted.
(6) [(5)] The decision to accept
a site is within the sole discretion of the Commission, including
determining whether acceptance of a property that meets all technical
criteria is in the best interest of the State.
(c) A property that is adjacent to an existing THC State Historic Site that will enhance the preservation, protection or interpretation of the existing site, or a property that is needed to support the operations of the state historic site as a program support facility, may be acquired by purchase or donation by action of the Commission on recommendation of the Executive Director, without the evaluation process described in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) A right of way or easement required to allow for installation or connection of necessary utilities at a THC State Historic Site between regular meetings of the Commission, may be approved by the Executive Director with the approval of the Chairman. This action will be ratified at the next meeting of the Commission.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 7, 2020.
TRD-202002770
Mark Wolfe
Executive Director
Texas Historical Commission
Earliest possible date of adoption: August 23, 2020
For further information, please call: (512) 463-6100