9-8a-203. Office duties.

652 words·~3 min read·/ut/title-9/chapter-8a/9-8a-203

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

The office shall:

(1)secure, for the present and future benefit of the state, the protection of archaeological resources and sites which are on state lands;

(2)foster increased cooperation and exchange of information between state authorities, the professional archaeological community, and private individuals;

(3)in cooperation with federal and state agencies, local governments, private organizations, and private individuals, direct and conduct a comprehensive statewide survey of historic properties;

(4)maintain an inventory of the properties described in Subsection

(3);

(5)identify and nominate eligible property to the National Register of Historic Places;

(6)administer applications for listing historic property on the National Register of Historic Places;

(7)prepare and implement a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan;

(8)administer the state program of federal assistance for historic preservation within the state;

(9)advise and assist, as appropriate, state agencies, federal agencies, and local governments in carrying out the state agency's, federal agency's, and local government's historic preservation responsibilities;

(10)cooperate with federal agencies, state agencies, local agencies, private organizations, and individuals to ensure that historic property is taken into consideration at all levels of planning and development;

(11)conduct a state-wide public awareness media campaign to:

(a)educate the public regarding the protection, purpose, significance, and value of preserving cultural sites, as that term is defined in Section 9-8a-205 ;

(b)inform the public of the law with regard to criminal acts and penalties in Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 9, Cultural Sites Protection; and

(c)educate the public on how to report criminal acts;

(12)provide educational seminars and training to state agencies, local agencies, private organizations, and individuals regarding the preservation and protection of state cultural sites;

(13)cooperate with local governments in the development of local historic preservation programs;

(14)consult with appropriate federal agencies with respect to:

(a)federal undertakings that may affect historic properties; and

(b)advising and assisting in the evaluation of proposals for rehabilitation projects that may qualify for federal assistance;

(a)create and maintain an inventory of all active and inactive cemeteries throughout the state;

(b)enter into cooperative agreements with local governments and other groups and organizations to collect and maintain the information needed for the inventory described in Subsection (15)(a) ;

(c)encourage the use of volunteers to help collect the information and to maintain the inventory described in Subsection (15)(a) ;

(d)encourage cemetery owners, or in the case of inactive or small historic cemeteries, volunteers, to create and maintain geographic information systems to record burial sites;

(e)publicize the information in the inventory described in Subsection (15)(a) in a variety of forms and media, especially to encourage Utah citizens to participate in the care and upkeep of historic cemeteries;

(f)work with public and private cemeteries, heritage organizations, genealogical groups, and volunteer groups to help maintain, repair, and landscape cemeteries, grave sites, and tombstones; and

(g)make the inventory described in Subsection (15)(a) available to any person upon request;

(a)create and maintain a public electronic record of each cemetery location and each burial location;

(b)help maintain, repair, and landscape cemeteries, grave sites, and tombstones by providing matching grants to:

(i)municipal cemeteries;

(ii)cemetery maintenance districts;

(iii)endowment care cemeteries;

(iv)private nonprofit cemeteries;

(v)genealogical associations; or

(vi)other nonprofit groups with an interest in cemeteries; and

(c)make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, governing the process for awarding grants under Subsection (15)(b) , including rules that ensure recipients use grant money for projects that are cost effective and completed in accordance with applicable professional standards;

(17)perform other duties as designated under 54 U.S.C. Sec. 302303;

(18)administer the Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund created in Section 9-8a-207 ; and

(19)perform other duties as designated by the department and by statute.

Amended by Chapter 376 , 2026 General Session