(1) Any state, county, town or other public official in custody of public documents is empowered in such official's discretion to turn over to the commission any official books, documents, records, official papers, newspaper files, printed books or portraits not in current use in the public official's office, and the commission shall provide for their permanent preservation.
(2) When so surrendered, copies of the items mentioned in subsection (a) shall be made and certified under seal, upon application of any person, which certificate shall have effect as if made by the officer originally in charge of them, and the commission shall charge for such copies the same fees as that officer is by the law allowed.