Bill > H2821

This bill establishes a special commission to examine the current status, maintenance, preservation, and storage of municipal records across the Commonwealth, with the goal of identifying strategies and solutions to improve their organization and safekeeping. The commission will be comprised of various officials, including the secretary of the commonwealth, legislative appointees, the Supervisor of Public Records, and representatives from the Massachusetts Archives, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Town Clerk’s Association, the City Clerk’s Association, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association, with the representative from the Massachusetts Archives serving as chairperson. This commission will have the authority to hold public hearings and will receive staff support from the Massachusetts Archives. Finally, the commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive written report detailing its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, which must be submitted to various state officials and legislative committees within three years of the bill's effective date.