NY Legislature Introduces Bill to Restrict Deaccessioning

The Wealth Bulletin is reporting that the NY State legislature has introduced a bill that would ban NY State museums from selling collections to raise operating funds. There are a few exceptions, but it appears to be rather straight forward and limits the reasons for deaccessioning. I will try to the follow the bill and update as news becomes available.

The Wealth Bulletin states The proposal is designed to toughen current regulations on "de-accessioning," which is the legal process governing how cultural institutions, trade, sell, or dispose of their collections. The process is enforced by the state’s board of regents, which oversees educational activities for New York state.

State Senator Richard Brodsky, a co-sponsor of the bill that could set a legal precedent if enacted, said it came at the behest of the museum community and was drafted with the support of the Museum Association of New York.

The bill would permit museums to sell collections only if the proceeds could be used for acquisitions or for the preservation, protection and care of works in the collection.

The bill stipulates that exceptions are made only for works that conflict with the museum’s mission statement, have deteriorated, have been duplicated in the collection, are inauthentic or are being returned to a donor or rightful owner.

To read the Wealth Bulletin article, click HERE.