State Records Officers

Records officers fulfill a critical role within Vermont state government and their work is essential for sustaining effective records and information management programs within their respective public agencies. Records officers are also responsible for the processing of public record requests in accordance with 1 V.S.A. § 318 of the Vermont Public Records Act.

Pursuant to 3 V.S.A. § 218(d), the head of each state agency or department shall establish, maintain, and implement an active and continuing records management program approved by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) and "shall designate a member of his or her staff as the records officer for his or her agency or department, and shall notify the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration in writing of the name and title of the person designated, and shall post the name and contact information of the person on the agency or department website, if one exists."

While 3 V.S.A. § 218 applies specifically to executive branch agencies and departments, elected state officers, state board and commission chairs, and senior leadership in the legislative and judicial branches are encouraged to establish, maintain, and implement active and continuing records management programs as a best practice and designate records officers accordingly.

For all branches of state government, designation of a records officer is required to use an enterprise repository or system managed and operated by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) or the Agency of Digital Services (ADS) and records officers serve as the primary contact for their respective public agencies’ records and information, regardless of physical form or characteristics, in all enterprise repositories and systems.