Texas Department of Health, Radiation Advisory Board:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1961-1998

Agency History

The Texas Radiation Advisory Board was created in 1961 (Senate Bill 68, 57th Legislature, Regular Session) to advise the state on policies and programs related to the control and regulation of radiation. The nine-member board was expanded to an 18-member board in 1981 (Senate Bill 480, 67th Legislature, Regular Session and modified in 1985 by House Bill 2091, 69th Legislature, Regular Session). Board members are appointed by the governor for staggered 6-year terms. The board reviews and evaluates policies and programs of the state relating to radiation and recommends changes in proposed or existing rules and guidelines to theTexas Department of Health's Bureau of Radiation Control, which regulates sources and uses of radiation for the protection of public health and safety and the environment. The Radiation Advisory Board also advises other state agencies as needed and furnishes such technical advice as may be required on matters relating to development, utilization, and regulation of sources of radiation. As of September 1, 1989 (House Bill 2136, 71st Legislature, Regular Session), the original statutes authorizing the creation of the Radiation Advisory Board were repealed but were added to the Texas Health and Safety Code as Subtitle D, Sect. 401.015.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

Agenda, minutes, organization charts, correspondence, memoranda, reports, statistics, notes, vitae, clippings, applications, legislative bills, printed materials, and articles (1961-1998) comprise the records of the Texas Radiation Advisory Board (TRAB). Records document the relationship between the Board and the Bureau of Radiation Control of the Texas Department of Health. TRAB considers these records to be the minutes and agendas of their meetings, although a wide variety of correspondence, reports, and other related materials have been included in the documentation. Correspondents include the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Texas Water Commission, the South Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society, the Texas Medical Association (TMA), private physicians, and members of the legislature. Matters taken under consideration or review by the board include changes to Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation; activities of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority; the regulation of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) as, for example, in the oil and gas industries; physician training and licensure; relevant upcoming legislation; radioactive waste disposal sites; and activities of the Health Department relating to radiation control. Some records pertain to recommendations made by the Sunset Commission concerning the continuation of the Radiation Advisory Board. The board appears to have met quarterly with special meetings held as necessary. Minutes and meeting files are grouped roughly by date of meeting, correspondence files are grouped roughly by year. After 1990, the normal chronological arrangement of minute files is not followed. All records have been microfilmed by the Radiation Advisory Bureau and, thus, all fasteners have been removed and the majority of materials have been left loose or placed in manila envelopes.

To prepare this preliminary inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Records, Texas Radiation Advisory Board. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1997/128, 1999/188

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control on June 20, 1997 and July 14, 1999.

Processing Information

Lisa Hendricks, June 1997

Nancy Enneking, July 1999

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Detailed Description of the Records

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