Public Law 113-287/Chapter 1025
Chapter 1025—Museums
- Sec.
- 102501. Purpose.
- 102502. Definition of museum object.
- 102503. Authority of Secretary.
- 102504. Review and approval.
§ 102501. Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to increase the public benefits from museums established within System units as a means of informing the public concerning the areas and preserving valuable objects and relics relating to the areas.
§ 102502. Definition of museum object
In this chapter:
- (1) In general.—The term “museum object” means an object that—
- (A) typically is movable; and
- (B) is eligible to be, or is made part of, a museum, library, or archive collection through a formal procedure, such as accessioning.
- (2) Inclusions.—The term “museum object” includes a prehistoric or historic artifact, work of art, book, document, photograph, or natural history specimen.
§ 102503. Authority of Secretary
(a) In General.—Notwithstanding other provisions or limitations of law, the Secretary may perform the functions described in this section in the manner that the Secretary considers to be in the public interest.
(b) Donations and Bequests.—The Secretary may accept donations and bequests of money or other personal property, and hold, use, expend, and administer the money or other personal property for purposes of this chapter.
(c) Purchases.—The Secretary may purchase museum objects and other personal property at prices that the Secretary considers to be reasonable.
(d) Exchanges.—The Secretary may make exchanges by accepting museum objects and other personal property and by granting in exchange for the museum objects or other personal property museum property under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary that no longer is needed or that may be held in duplicate among the museum properties administered by the Secretary. Exchanges shall be consummated on a basis that the Secretary considers to be equitable and in the public interest.
(e) Acceptance of Loans of Property.—The Secretary may accept the loan of museum objects and other personal property and pay transportation costs incidental to the museum objects or other personal property. Loans shall be accepted on terms and conditions that the Secretary considers necessary.
(f) Loans of Property.—The Secretary may loan to responsible public or private organizations, institutions, or agencies, without cost to the United States, such museum objects and other personal property as the Secretary shall consider advisable. Loans shall be made on terms and conditions that the Secretary considers necessary to protect the public interest in those properties.
(g) Transfer of Museum Objects.—The Secretary may transfer museum objects that the Secretary determines are no longer needed for museum purposes to qualified Federal agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution, that have programs to preserve and interpret cultural or natural heritage, and accept the transfer of museum objects for the purposes of this chapter from any other Federal agency, without reimbursement. The head of any other Federal agency may transfer, without reimbursement, museum objects directly to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purpose of this chapter.
(h) Conveyance of Museum Objects.—The Secretary may convey museum objects that the Secretary determines are no longer needed for museum purposes, without monetary consideration but subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers necessary, to private institutions exempt from Federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and to non-Federal governmental entities if the Secretary determines that the recipient is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of natural or cultural heritage and is qualified to manage the property, prior to any conveyance under this subsection and subsection (g).
(i) Destruction of Museum Objects.—The Secretary may destroy or cause to be destroyed museum objects that the Secretary determines to have no scientific, cultural, historic, educational, esthetic, or monetary value.
§ 102504. Review and approval
The Secretary shall ensure that museum objects are treated in a careful and deliberate manner that protects the public interest. Prior to taking any action under subsection (g), (h), or (i) of section 102503 of this title, the Secretary shall establish a systematic review and approval process, including consultation with appropriate experts, that meets the highest standards of the museum profession for all actions taken under those subsections.