Weather Forecast
53°, overcast
CHAPTER 38-1
Custody and Protection
SECTION 38-1-10
§ 38-1-10 Disposal of records.
No public official may mutilate, destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any public record without the consent of the public records administration program of the secretary of state.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1981, ch. 353, § 4; P.L. 2000, ch. 233, § 1.)
SECTION 38-1-1.1
§ 38-1-1.1 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter:
(1) "Agency" or "public body" shall mean any executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative body of the state, or any political subdivision thereof; including, but not limited to, any department, division, agency, commission, board, office, bureau, authority, any school, fire, or water district, or other agency or quasi-public agency of Rhode Island state or local government which exercises governmental functions, or any other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf of any public agency.
(2) "Public business" means any matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.
(3) "Public record" or "public records" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.
(4) "Supervisor of the regulatory body" means the chief or head of a section having enforcement responsibility for a particular statute or set of rules and regulations within a regulatory agency.
(P.L. 1981, ch. 353, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 363, § 40; P.L. 2012, ch. 451, § 1.)
SECTION 38-1-4
§ 38-1-4 Keeping of records in vaults provided – Penalty.
When not in use, the records and documents shall be kept in the fireproof rooms, vaults, or safes provided for them. Whoever unlawfully keeps in his or her possession any public record, or unlawfully removes the record from the room in which it is usually kept, or alters, defaces, mutilates, or destroys any public record, or violates any provision of this section, shall, for each offense, be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).
(G.L. 1909, ch. 41, § 4; P.L. 1911, ch. 700, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 42, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 494, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 38-1-4.)
Please explain the inappropriate content below.
