The Louisiana secretary of state would have authority to temporarily close some museums if sufficient funds are not appropriated to operate them under a bill that won final legislative passage Monday.
The Louisiana House and Senate approved a conference committee report resolving differences between the chambers on Senate Bill 268. The measure now heads to the governor’s desk for signing into law.
Secretary of State Tom Schedler sought the authority amid tight budget times with major cuts in state appropriations looming.
Schedler’s agency oversees the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport as well as a number of smaller museums around the state including the Tioga Heritage Park & Museum and the Eddie G. Robinson Museum in Grambling.
Under SB268, the agency could temporary close museums if sufficient funds are not appropriated and funds from other local, public or private sources are not available to operate them. The Department of State can also accept and use gifts, grants, bequests, donations, endowments or funds from any public or private source to support facility and museum operations.
