§ 501. Statement of legislative intent; short title. (a) The General Assembly finds that public records are essential to the administration of state and local government. Public records contain information which allows government programs to function, provide officials with a basis for making decisions and ensure continuity with past operations. Public records document the legal […]
§ 503. Duties of Delaware Public Archives concerning public records. (a) The Delaware Public Archives shall be responsible for establishing and enforcing the policies and guidelines for the management and preservation of all public records of this State and the political subdivisions thereof. (b) The Delaware Public Archives shall have the power, duty and authority […]
§ 504. Duties of public officials and employees concerning public records. (a) It shall be the responsibility of every public official and employee to: (1) Adequately document the transaction of public business and the services and programs for which such persons are responsible; (2) Retain and adequately protect all public records in their custody; and […]
§ 505. Storage and protection of public records. (a) All public records of this State and the political subdivisions thereof shall be kept in facilities maintained by the agencies and offices responsible for the creation and maintenance of such records, unless the consent of the Delaware Public Archives is obtained for their transfer or storage […]
§ 506. Delivery of records to successors. The custodian of any public records shall, at the expiration of the custodian’s term of office, appointment or employment, deliver custody and control of all public records kept or received by the custodian in the transaction of official business to the custodian’s successor, supervisor or records officer, or, […]
§ 507. Preservation of plans of state buildings and public works. (a) Complete copies of as-built drawings and specifications for all buildings and other public works that are built on state property, including alterations thereto, shall be deposited with the Delaware Public Archives for preservation and safekeeping. (b) The Office of Management and Budget shall […]
§ 508. Deposit of deeds to state-owned property with the Delaware Public Archives. All state agencies shall deposit with the Delaware Public Archives for preservation and safekeeping the original deeds to all state-owned property. The Delaware Public Archives shall give a receipt for each deed received into its custody. 66 Del. Laws, c. 211, § […]
§ 509. Duty of public officials to consult Delaware Public Archives before duplicating or repairing records. All public officials of this State and the political subdivisions thereof shall consult with the Department of State regarding proper methods and materials before undertaking the repair or restoration of any public record. 66 Del. Laws, c. 211, § […]
§ 510. Transfer of records upon termination of state agencies; political subdivisions. (a) All public records which are in or shall come into the possession of any state agency shall, upon termination of such agency, be transferred to the custody of the Delaware Public Archives, provided that such transfer is consistent with the provision of […]
§ 511. Certified copies of records delivered to Delaware Public Archives for preservation. (a) The Delaware Public Archives may issue certified copies of any public records in its custody, as provided by § 10003 of this title, subject to the restrictions listed in § 10002 of this title, which certified copies shall be admissible in […]
§ 512. Transfer of records to the Delaware Public Archives. (a) Selection and transfer of public records in the custody of any public official of this State or the political subdivisions thereof shall be based upon terms and conditions established in approved records retention and disposition schedules, and according to the rules and regulations established […]
§ 513. Acquisition and custody of federal records. The Delaware Public Archives may acquire and take into its protective custody such public records in the custody of the government of the United States as may relate to the State. 66 Del. Laws, c. 211, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 91, §§ 37-39;
§ 514. Inspection of public records by the Delaware Public Archives. For the purpose of this chapter all custodians of public records of this State and the political subdivisions thereof shall, upon the request of the State Archivist and Records Administrator, afford to the State Archivist and Records Administrator or Delaware Public Archives staff designated […]
§ 515. Microfilming and other document imaging services; appropriations and expenditures. (a) Any program or function of any state agency or local government, which requires microfilm or other document imaging services, must include provisions for the anticipated cost of such services. Agencies may choose to contract with the Delaware Public Archives for microfilm and document […]
§ 516. Responsibility of the Delaware Public Archives concerning records created or reproduced by photographic or microphotographic means; admissibility of photographic copies of records in evidence. (a) The Delaware Public Archives shall be responsible for monitoring the use of photographic or microphotographic processes in the creation or duplication of public records. (1) The Delaware Public […]
§ 517. Standards for methods and materials used for public records. (a) All custodians of public records of this State and the political subdivisions thereof, whose duty it shall be to create any public record, shall not use or permit to be used for recording purposes, any materials or methods which do not meet standards […]
§ 518. Recovery of records; replevin. (a) The chief administrative officer of each state agency and political subdivision of this State shall notify the Delaware Public Archives of any actual, impending or threatened unlawful removal, defacing, alteration or destruction of records that shall come to his or her attention, and with the assistance of the […]
§ 519. Delaware Public Archives to be depository for reports, publications, rules and regulations. (a) The Delaware Public Archives is hereby constituted the central depository for the reports, publications, rules and regulations of the government of this State and all political subdivisions thereof. It shall be the duty of all state agencies and political subdivisions […]
§ 520. Custodian designated. The chief administrative officer or officers charged by law with the responsibility of maintaining offices having public records shall be the official custodian of such public record. However, upon transfer of any and all public records to the Delaware Public Archives for archival preservation, the State Archivist and Records Administrator shall […]
§ 521. Appointment of records officers. (a) Each state agency and political subdivision of this State shall designate as many as appropriate, but at least 1, records officer to serve as liaison with the Delaware Public Archives for the purpose of implementing and overseeing a records management program, and coordinating legal disposition, including destruction of […]
