SECTIONS 37541-37564 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 37541-37564

37541. By ordinance, the legislative body may establish a public
museum of natural and historical objects in a city where there is
none.

37542. Upon receiving a petition signed by one-third of the city
electors, the legislative body shall establish a museum in such a
city. Where several petitions are submitted, they shall be in
substantially the same form.

37543. With the consent of the legislative body, the mayor shall
appoint a board of five museum trustees to manage the museum.

37544. The trustees shall hold office for three years, and shall
serve without compensation. The members of the first board shall
classify themselves by lot so that the term of one trustee expires at
the end of the current fiscal year, two at the end of the next year,
and two at the end of the second year. Vacancies shall be filled by
appointment for the unexpired term.

37545. The board of museum trustees shall meet at least once a
month at the time and place it fixes by resolution. Three trustees
may call a special meeting by serving written notice upon the other
members at least three hours before the meeting.

37546. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business.

37547. The board shall appoint one of its members president. He
shall serve for one year and until his successor is appointed. In his
absence, the board shall select a president pro tempore.

37548. The board shall cause a proper record of its proceedings to
be kept.

37549. At its first meeting the board shall cause a certificate to
be filed with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, showing
the date the museum was established and the names of the trustees
and officers.

37550. The board may make and enforce all regulations necessary for
the administration and protection of the museum and museum property.
Violations of such regulations are punishable by fine or exclusion
from the privileges of the museum.

37551. If the board determines that the city legislative body has
not provided suitable buildings for the museum, it may purchase real
property and erect, or rent, and equip such buildings as it deems
necessary.

37552. The board may administer any trust created for the museum.
It may receive property situated in or out of the State by gift,
devise, or bequest and hold it in trust or otherwise. Except where
the gift, devise, or bequest provides otherwise, it may dispose of
such property for the benefit of the museum.

37553. The board may appoint and prescribe the duties and powers of
the curator, secretary, and other officers and employees of the
museum. It may determine the number and fix the compensation of
officers and employees. Officers and employees hold office at the
pleasure of the board.

37554. The board may purchase personal property, including
necessary publications and objects of natural or historical value.

37555. The board may borrow objects of natural or historical value
from, lend such objects to, and exchange them with, other museums. It
may allow nonresidents to borrow such objects, and may accept loans
of such objects from any person. It may prescribe the conditions of
such loans.

37556. The board may perform any other act necessary or proper to
carry out the provisions of this article.

37560. If payment into the fund is inconsistent with the conditions
of a gift, devise, or bequest, the board shall provide for the
preservation of the money and its application to the use of the
museum, pursuant to such conditions.

37561. Claims upon the fund shall be presented to the board for
allowance. Such claims shall be paid as are other claims against the
city.

37562. Subject to rules and regulations of the board, the museum
shall be free to the inhabitants and nonresident taxpayers of the
city.

37563. Unless inconsistent with the terms of its acquisition, the
title to property acquired for museum purposes vests in the city.
Actions involving the property shall be brought and defended in the
name of the city.

37564. Upon receiving a petition signed by one-half of the city
electors, the legislative body may repeal the ordinance establishing
the museum. Upon repeal of the ordinance the museum is
disestablished.