State, parish and other officials may turn over to the department of archives of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College for permanent preservation therein, any books, records, documents, newspaper files, original papers, or manuscripts not in current use in their offices. When so surrendered, copies therefrom shall be made and certified upon application of any party interested. This certification shall have the same force and effect as if made by the officer originally in custody of them. For each such certification the same fee shall be charged as would have been charged by the official originally having custody of such documents and records, and this fee when collected by the department of archives, shall be remitted promptly to the said official.
La. R.S. § 17:1542