(a) Under the direction of the State Library Board, the State Librarian shall be responsible for developing and directing a records management program for the books, records, papers and documents of all state agencies within the executive department, and the books, records, papers and documents of the several towns, cities, boroughs, districts and other political subdivisions of the state, pursuant to the provisions of section 11-8a. The State Librarian shall also supervise the operation of state records centers; provide photoduplication and microfilming service and document repair and restoration service for state and local records; approve security storage facilities, within or without the state, or establish and operate such facilities within the state, for the safe storage of original public records or security copies thereof; and carry out a program for the identification and preservation of essential records of the state and of its political subdivisions. The State Librarian shall, with the approval of the State Library Board, and in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, adopt regulations for the creation and preservation of the records of the several towns, cities, boroughs and districts of the state. Such regulations shall establish the physical characteristics required for papers, inks, typewriter ribbons, carbon papers, loose-leaf binders, photographic films or other supplies and materials, including photographic or other processes for recording documents, used in the creation of public records; and the design, construction and degree of fire resistance required for safes, cabinets, vaults and file rooms in which public records are housed. The State Librarian shall ascertain from time to time whether the provisions of the general statutes and of such regulations relating to the recording, filing, indexing, maintenance and disposition of such records are being carried out. The State Librarian may order any person having the care and custody of such records to comply with such statutes or with such regulations. The State Librarian shall send a copy of such order to the chief administrative officer of the town, city, borough or district to which the records relate. The order shall specify the time within which the order shall be complied with. In setting such time for compliance, the State Librarian shall take into consideration the availability of facilities or equipment or the need for the construction or purchase thereof. The State Librarian may cause the enforcement of any such order by application to the Superior Court, or to any judge thereof if said court is not then sitting, to issue an appropriate decree or process, which application shall be brought and the proceedings thereon conducted by the Attorney General.

(b) The State Librarian shall, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, appoint an assistant who shall be the Public Records Administrator. All powers, functions and duties assigned to the Examiner of Public Records are hereby transferred to the Public Records Administrator.

(1949 Rev., S. 1637; 1967, P.A. 495, S. 3; P.A. 73-544, S. 21; P.A. 77-614, S. 121, 610; P.A. 80-338, S. 4; P.A. 84-414, S. 5, 14; P.A. 89-167, S. 1; P.A. 12-66, S. 19.)

History: 1967 act substituted public records administrator for examiner of public records, made administrator head of newly-created department of archives and records administration, deleted requirement that committee approve the appointment and replaced former provisions re duties with detailed enumeration of duties; P.A. 73-544 substituted civil preparedness for civil defense; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of administrative services for records management committee; P.A. 80-338 clarified that records management program be carried out for state agencies “within the executive department”, substituted state librarian for commissioner of administrative services, deleted provision re cooperation with civil preparedness advisory council, deleted references to standards and substituted “chapter 54” for “chapter 48”; P.A. 84-414 deleted provisions re department of archives and records administration, inserted Subsec. (a) with provisions directing the state librarian to develop a records management program for the books, records, papers and documents of all state agencies and the several towns, cities, boroughs, districts and other political subdivisions of the state and inserted a new Subsec. (b) re appointment of a public records administrator; P.A. 89-167 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting the requirement that the state librarian obtain the approval of the commissioner of administrative services re the records management program; P.A. 12-66 amended Subsec. (a) to delete references to probate districts and make technical changes.

See Secs. 1-9 to 1-12, inclusive, re standards for ink, paper, binders etc. used for public records.

See Sec. 7-109 re destruction of documents.

Cited. 216 C. 253; 223 C. 731.