{"id":23411,"date":"2026-07-07T10:33:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/slrm\/blog\/?p=23411"},"modified":"2026-07-07T10:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T15:37:41","slug":"faq-what-do-local-governments-need-to-file-with-tslac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/slrm\/blog\/2026\/07\/faq-what-do-local-governments-need-to-file-with-tslac\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: What do local governments need to file with TSLAC?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you a new records management officer? Audit season getting you down? Just looking for some fun paperwork to do in your free time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like it or not, achieving and maintaining compliance with the Local Government Records Act (LGRA) has its benefits. It’s not just required: keeping your paperwork up to date is good emergency management, it demonstrates your ongoing commitment to records management, and it gives your TSLAC analyst the information they need to contact you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compliance requirements are split into two categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elected county officials
(What counts as an elected official?<\/a>)<\/td>		All other local governments
(What counts as a local government?<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elected Officials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This section covers elected county officials: County judges and commissioners, county and district clerks and attorneys, tax assessor-collectors, treasurers, justices of the peace, constables, and sheriffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elected officials submit Form SLR 512<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Form SLR 512<\/a> fulfills all filing requirements for elected officials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Adopt and file a written plan for records management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Decide whether to serve as Records Management Officer (RMO) or delegate duties to the countywide RMO<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Declare compliance with TSLAC\u2019s local retention schedules<\/a> (read more in our Declaration of Compliance walkthrough<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Each incoming elected official should file Form SLR 512 within 30 days of taking office. A new form is not required when an official is re-elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All Other Governments (“Non-Elected”)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This section covers all governments other than elected county officials: counties, municipalities, school districts, appraisal districts, special-purpose districts, and more<\/a>! Non-elected governments must fulfill three primary requirements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Establish a records management program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The LGRA requires local governments to establish a records management program by order or ordinance, sometimes called a Records Management Policy (RMP). A template<\/a> is available on our website. The RMP should be filed with meeting minutes or signatures from a local government’s governing body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Designate a Records Management Officer (RMO)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The law requires two things of each local government:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A. Designation by Governing Body<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The governing body<\/a> must designate an RMO by name or position<\/a>. The designation may be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n