COLORADO STATE ARCHIVES
RECORDS MANAGEMENT MANUAL - STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
SCHEDULE 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS

1-1. Acknowledgement Files
                 Acknowledgment, transmittal of inquiries, and requests that have
                 been referred elsewhere for reply.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain for 3 months after acknowledgment
                                         and/or referral and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-2. Administrative Hearing Transcripts
                 Transcripts of hearing conducted as part of the regulatory
                 process and hearings on proposed rules and changes; they may be
                 maintained with related information including meeting notices,
                 proofs of publications, meeting minutes, and the conclusions
                 reached.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 5 years and then
                                         destroy.


1-3. Administrative Reference/Reading Files
                 Record of all memoranda and correspondence generated by another
                 agency for general reference by all agency employees.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain for 1 year or until administrative
                                         need ends, whichever is first, and then
                                         destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.

1-4. Administrative Rulemaking Files
                 Papers of short-term interest which have no documentary or
                 evidential value. Includes transmittal correspondence, copies of
                 replies which require no administrative action, no policy
                 decision, and no special compilation or research for reply; and
                 quasi-official notices such as for holidays, charity, and fund
                 appeals, bond campaigns, and other similar papers.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 3 months or until
                                         administrative need ends and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.

1-5. Agency Written Histories
                 Scrapbooks, photographs, articles, program notes and
                 documentation of events sponsored or funded by an agency. Also
                 included are narrative audio or audio-visual agency histories.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Retain by agency for 10 years and
                                         then transfer to State Archives.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-6. Attorney General's Opinions
                 Legal interpretations written at the request of an agency asking
                 for guidance in enforcing, obeying, and/or interpretation of the
                 law.   

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Retain by the Office of the
                                         Attorney General for 5 years and then
                                         transfer to State Archives.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-7. Committee and Conference Files
                 Records created by a committee or conference which has been
                 created by the General Assembly or Governor, including advisory
                 committee's relating to executive establishment, organization,
                 membership, and policy. Includes agenda, meeting minutes, final
                 reports and related records documenting the accomplishments of
                 official boards and committees.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Retain by agency for 3 years and
                                         then transfer to State Archives.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 5 years and then
                                         destroy.


1-8. Daily Activity Schedules
                 Records regarding State employees who are not executives or
                 exempt status containing substantive information relating to
                 official activities, the substance of which has not been
                 incorporated into official files. Includes calendars, appointment
                 books, schedules, logs, diaries, and other records documenting
                 meetings, appointments, telephone calls, trips, visits, and other
                 activities of employees. See also Executive Calendars or Routine
                 Activity Calendars.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 1 year and then
                                         destroy. 

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.  

1-9.  Executive Calendars

                 Records containing substantive information relating to the
                 official activities of high-level officials which are not
                 incorporated into memoranda, reports, correspondence, or other
                 records included in the official files. Include calendars,
                 appointment books, schedules, logs, diaries, and other records
                 documenting meetings, appointments, telephone calls, trips,
                 visits, and other activities of the employees. See Daily Activity
                 Schedules.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 1 year and then
                                         destroy. 

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.  

1-10. Executive Correspondence
                 Records not duplicated elsewhere that document how the office is
                 organized and how it functions, its pattern of action, its
                 policies, procedures and achievements.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Retain by agency for 5 years and
                                         then transfer to State Archives.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-11. Feasibility Studies
                 Studies conducted before the installation of any technology or
                 equipment. Studies and systems analyses for the initial
                 establishment and major changes of these systems.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain for the life of the technology or
                                         equipment plus 1 year.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 2 years and then
                                         destroy.


1-12. Finding Aids
                 Indices, lists, catalogues, registers, and other finding aids
                 necessary for the efficient use of other records.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain until no longer needed then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-13. Forms Development Files
                 Working papers, background materials, requisitions,
                 specifications, processing data, and control records which
                 provide documentation to the creation and establishment of a
                 form. 

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain for 1 month after form is
                                         discontinued, superseded, or canceled and
                                         then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-14. General Correspondence (Routine)
                 Records that are general in nature and do not relate directly to
                 primary program responsibilities of an office or agency. Letters
                 or appreciation, congratulations, charity fund, parking
                 assignments, etc.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 1 year and then destroy

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 3 months and then
                                         destroy.


1-15. Government Records Access Appeal Case Files
                 Case Files that contain information on government records access
                 appeals to the designated Records Officer, Chief Administrative
                 Officer, State Archivist, and the District Court. They contain
                 correspondence, copies of requests, research notes, court
                 documents, and any other documentation concerning the appeal
                 process.
     
                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 5 years and then
                                         destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.

1-16. Incoming Document Log
                 Records which provide detailed information on incoming documents
                 that require distribution or action.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 1 year and then destroy

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 6 months and then
                                         destroy.

1-17. Internal Administrative Correspondence
                 Records of a general nature (not policy) which would be created
                 in the course of administering agency programs. Information could
                 include office organization, staffing, procedures, and internal
                 communications.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 2 years and then
                                         destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 6 months and then
                                         destroy.


1-18. Internal Committee and Conference Files
                 Records relating to executive establishment, organization,
                 membership, and committee policy to handle problems or issues
                 within an agency.   

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 2 years after
                                         termination of committee and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency for 1 year and then
                                         destroy.


1-19. Litigation Case Files
                 Document judicial proceedings, which involve the state agency. 
                 Files include some or all of the following documents: 
                 affidavits, summons and complaints, responses, orders of
                 dismissals, notice and general appeal, laws and regulations
                 applying to a particular case, legal briefs, transcripts of
                 proceedings, orders, court decisions, and related information.  

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Portions of this series may be kept
                                         permanently by the State Archives through
                                         the Attorney General's office.  Court
                                         records in this series are also available in
                                         the court having jurisdiction over these
                                         cases.

                    Duplicate copies:    6 years after case is closed and then
                                         destroy.


1-20. Management Improvement Reports
                 Reports on analysis and implementation of programs and operation
                 of those programs.    

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 10 years and then
                                         destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.
1-21. Minutes of the Governing Body
		Records of official proceedings of the governing body. Information includes
	 	agenda, date, place, list of attendees, action taken on resolutions, and a
		summary of discussion and decision. Official minutes also include all
		informational attachments such as reports, survey, proposals, studies and
		charts distributed to members for discussion and for use in making decisions
		on institution policy, planning and administrative matters.
		Retention
		    Record copy:	Permanent.
		    Ad hoc committees (non-official):   3 Years   


1-22. Organizational Files
                 Records detailing an organization, which could include charts and
                 reorganization studies. Also administrative maps that show
                 regional boundaries and headquarters of decentralized agencies or
                 that show the geographic extent or limits of an agency's programs
                 and projects.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Retain by agency for 3 years and
                                         then transfer to State Archives.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency until superseded and then
                                         destroy.


1-23. Performance Audit Reports
                 These are reports written and prepared as a result of a
                 performance audit on state agencies. They contain summary
                 documentation on agencies programs, operations and productivity.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. 

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-24. Policies and Procedures Manual
                 Policies and procedures that govern the operation and
                 administration of various programs within the organization.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. 

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-25. Policy and Procedure Case Files
                 Case Files related to policy and procedure issuances which
                 document the development of the issuance. Includes issuances
                 related to routine administrative functions (e.g., payroll,
                 procurement, and personnel).

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 2 years after
                                         superseded and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-26. Proposed Legislation Records
                 Records created by governmental agencies for the purpose of
                 proposing legislation. They contain correspondence, memoranda,
                 research information on proposed legislation, fiscal notes,
                 summaries, estimated cost reports, impact statements, and other
                 information documenting the proposed legislation.
     
                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. 

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-27. Publications
                 Documents created by the agency, including pamphlets, reports,
                 leaflets, file manuals, annual reports, other published or
                 processed documents, and the last manuscript report, if not
                 published, relating to management projects.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent. Creating agency shall transfer
                                         one copy to State Archives when published.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain by agency until administrative need
                                         ends and then destroy.


1-28. Public Record Register Sheets
                 Descriptive listings of agency records transferred to the State
                 Archives. Information includes records series number, agency name
                 and address, record series title and inclusive dates,
                 classification information, accession number, agency box number,
                 description of box contents, and date of transfer.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 5 years after records
                                         are destroyed and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.



1-29. Records Disposition Files
                 Records which document the destruction of a governmental agency's
                 records, such as destruction letters or destruction logs. May
                 also contain documentation of records maintained and destroyed by
                 the State Archives.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Permanent.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain for 1 year and then destroy.


1-30. Records Management Files
                 Records used in creating and establishing records management
                 programs. They may contain records inventories, correspondence,
                 classification designations, records control, equipment, filing
                 procedures/manuals, training information, and other documents
                 created by the State Archives and other agencies to facilitate
                 records management practices. May also contain information on
                 records management equipment and/or computer software.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency until updated or superseded
                                         and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until administrative need ends and
                                         then destroy.


1-31. Technical Reference Files
                 These are documents retained strictly for reference and
                 informational purposes which are not part of any other official
                 files. They include copies of reports, studies, special
                 compilations of data, drawings, periodicals, books, clippings,
                 extra (non-record) copies of policy and procedure files,
                 brochures, catalogs, vendor price lists, and publications
                 prepared internally and externally.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency until administrative need
                                         ends and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-32. Transitory Files
                 Papers of short-term interest which have no documentary or
                 evidential value. Includes transmittal correspondence, copies of
                 replies which require no administrative action, no policy
                 decision, and no special compilation or research for reply; and
                 quasi-official notices such as for holidays, charity, and fund
                 appeals, bond campaigns, and other similar papers.

                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 3 months or until
                                         administrative need ends and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-33. Transmittal Correspondence
                 Letters or other attachments to records which do not provide any
                 additional information to what is being sent.
     
                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency for 3 months and then
                                         destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-34. Word Processing Files
                 Documents such as letters, messages, memoranda, reports,
                 handbooks, directives, and manuals recorded on electronic media
                 such as hard disks or floppy diskettes and is used to produce a
                 hard copy which is then maintained in organized files.
     
                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency until hard copy is filed
                                         and administrative need ends and then
                                         delete.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain until no longer needed then destroy.


1-35. Working Papers
                 Papers which have a short-term use and comprise the background
                 records, such as preliminary studies, drafts, analyses, notes,
                 interim reports regarding a particular case files, and financial
                 performance audits.
                 
                 Retention
                    Record copy:         Retain by agency until administrative need
                                         ends and then destroy.

                    Duplicate copies:    Retain for 6 months and then destroy.


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last modified 8/1/2010