How HB164 changes current law

Compared against the N.H. Revised Statutes Annotated as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill updates the responsibilities of the local government records manager and establishes requirements for a publicly accessible website for local electronic records.

• RSA 5:35

  The director shall accept for storage in the state archives such local records as the municipal records board established under RSA 33-A:4-a may require. The director shall designate, with the approval of the municipal records board, a publicly accessible website for the retention and public access to local electronic records.

  This language specifies that the director will create a website for local electronic records.

• RSA 5:49

  records, and grants for local government records management improvement pursuant to RSA 5:51

  This removes references to grants for local government records management improvement, clarifying the local government records manager's responsibilities.

• RSA 5:49

  II-a. The local government records manager, or if the role is not filled, the state archivist, is authorized to employ specialists in records management, archives, and administration, consultants, and/or other specialists necessary to provide a publicly accessible website pursuant to RSA 5:35 and issue guidance for its proper use.

  This addition grants the local government records manager authority to hire specialists to develop and manage the publicly accessible website.

• RSA 33-A:5-a

  III. Electronic municipal records, including paper municipal records transferred to electronic records in accordance with the provisions of paragraph I, may be stored on a publicly accessible website designated by, and in accordance with, guidance issued by the state archivist. If electronic municipal records are stored in this manner, no additional copy need be kept by the municipality if the municipality provides the public at least one cost-free method of accessing the website.

  This establishes regulations for storing electronic municipal records on a website without requiring duplicate physical copies, provided access is maintained.

• RSA 91-A:4

  IV.(a) Each public body or agency shall, upon request for any governmental record reasonably described, make available for inspection and copying any such governmental record within its files when such records are immediately available for such release or, if the record has been uploaded to the website in accordance with RSA 33-A:5-a, III, provide the domain name of the website.

  This amendment requires public bodies to provide website information for accessing records that have been uploaded online.