FAQ: Can I destroy a paper original after scanning?

Of all the FAQs we get, this might be the most FAQiest of them all! Both local governments and state agencies want to know if they ‘go paperless’—if they digitize their essential records—can they get rid of the original paper or film copies? Yes! Records management laws and rules applicable to state agencies and local…

How to Determine Fiscal Year End Retention Periods

Determining your record’s fiscal year end (FE) date is important for destroying that specific record on schedule. Read TSLAC’s recommendation for keeping a disposition log to understand consequences of destroying a record too early and TSLAC’s thoughts on keeping a record too long. Fiscal year (FY) is a 12-month period office’s use for accounting purposes.…

Off the Record: Unlawful Disposition

Tune in monthly for a curated collection of articles we found interesting on a broad range of topics, some which are directly related to records management and others which might share common themes. No, we didn’t write these articles—hence the name of this series, “Off the Record”—but fortunately, we didn’t need to in order to…

Disposition 101 Webinar Now Available

We are very excited to announce the newly revamped Disposition 101 webinar, which is now available on our website along with several other free records management webinars and supplemental resources. Check out the Disposition 101 webinar page for the video recording, handouts and a certificate of completion. This webinar is for state agency and local…

RIM Month Fun: Memes

SLRM likes to make a fun post every April to celebrate RIM month. In the past, we’ve done Emoji Retention and RIM Mad Libs. It’s been a difficult RIM Month 2020 – with event cancellations, folks working from home, and everyone figuring out new workflows to serve Texans. We could all use a mirthful chuckle…

COVID-19 Records and How Long to Keep Them

by Erica Rice [Updated 7/6/2020]: On July 2, 2020, the U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued guidance requiring that all Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant documentation be retained for 5 years. Visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s website for more information about CARES funds. The analysts here at TSLAC…

Personnel File Bucketing

The Personnel File: Retention & Best Practices

by Erica Rice Every state agency and local government creates and maintains employee records.  Often maintained in individual files for each employee, the personnel file is added to regularly throughout its active life, and it may often be consulted during its long inactive life.  We create and use personnel records to hire, re-hire, train, evaluate,…