RECORD SCHEDULES

A record schedule is a "manual, directive, or policy containing descriptions of and disposition instructions for retention, access, and management of all public records or documents" (3 V.S.A. § 117). Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 317a, which was added by Act 96 of 2008, a "custodian of public records shall not destroy, give away, sell, discard, or damage any record or records in his or her charge, unless specifically authorized by law or under a record schedule approved by the state archivist pursuant to subdivision 117(a)(5) of Title 3."

Each state agency has a designated records officer or records liaison who is responsible for the agency's records management program, including records retention. Prior to contacting VSARA, State employees should contact their respective records officer or liaison for information about recordkeeping requirements. Local agencies do not have records officers. Please visit our Local Records website for information specific to local public agencies.

The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration has developed General Record Schedules (GRS) that any public agency (state and local) may adopt. Please see our General Record Schedules web page for more information.

Agencies that have been using disposition orders to manage their records may continue to use them until they are superseded by an agency specific record schedule and/or general record schedules. More details are available on our Disposition Orders web page.

Please note that VSARA offers a Targeted Assistance Program (TAP) for agencies wishing to update their records management program and/or create agency specific record schedules. Agencies must go through TAP if they wish to supersede their existing disposition orders with an agency specific record schedule approved by the State Archivist.

To learn more about Managing Records, please contact us at: . Specific staff contact information is located on our staff contact page.