§ 2904. — General responsibilities of Administrator.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 44USC2904]
TITLE 44--PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS
CHAPTER 29--RECORDS MANAGEMENT BY THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES AND
BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES
Sec. 2904. General responsibilities for records management
(a) The Archivist shall provide guidance and assistance to Federal
agencies with respect to ensuring adequate and proper documentation of
the policies and transactions of the Federal Government and ensuring
proper records disposition.
(b) The Administrator shall provide guidance and assistance to
Federal agencies to ensure economical and effective records management
by such agencies.
(c) In carrying out their responsibilities under subsection (a) or
(b), respectively, the Archivist and the Administrator shall each have
the responsibility--
(1) to promulgate standards, procedures, and guidelines with
respect to records management and the conduct of records management
studies;
(2) to conduct research with respect to the improvement of
records management practices and programs;
(3) to collect and disseminate information on training programs,
technological developments, and other activities relating to records
management;
(4) to establish such interagency committees and boards as may
be necessary to provide an exchange of information among Federal
agencies with respect to records management;
(5) to direct the continuing attention of Federal agencies and
the Congress on the need for adequate policies governing records
management;
(6) to conduct records management studies and, in his
discretion, designate the heads of executive agencies to conduct
records management studies with respect to establishing systems and
techniques designed to save time and effort in records management;
(7) to conduct inspections or surveys of the records and the
records management programs and practices within and between Federal
agencies;
(8) to report to the appropriate oversight and appropriations
committees of the Congress and to the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget in January of each year and at such other
times as the Archivist or the Administrator (as the case may be)
deems desirable--
(A) on the results of activities conducted pursuant to
paragraphs (1) through (7) of this section,
(B) on evaluations of responses by Federal agencies to any
recommendations resulting from inspections or studies conducted
under paragraphs (6) and (7) of this section, and
(C) to the extent practicable, estimates of costs to the
Federal Government resulting from the failure of agencies to
implement such recommendations.
(d) In addition, the Administrator, in carrying out subsection (b),
shall have the responsibility to promote economy and efficiency in the
selection and utilization of space, staff, equipment, and supplies for
records management.
(Added Pub. L. 94-575, Sec. 2(a)(2), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2725;
amended Pub. L. 96-511, Sec. 2(c)(1), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2825; Pub.
L. 98-497, title I, Sec. 107(b)(16), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2288.)
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2904, Pub. L. 90-620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1296,
contained provisions similar to those comprising pars. (1) and (2) of
this section, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94-575, Sec. 2(a)(2).
Provisions similar to those comprising pars. (8) to (10) of this
section were contained in section 2902, Pub. L. 90-620, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1296, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94-575, Sec. 2(a)(1).
Amendments
1984--Pub. L. 98-497 substituted ``for records management'' for ``of
Administrator'' in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98-497 designated existing first sentence as
subsec. (a) and substituted ``Archivist'' for ``Administrator'' and
``ensuring adequate and proper documentation of the policies and
transactions of the Federal Government and ensuring proper records
disposition'' for ``records creation, records maintenance and use, and
records disposition''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98-497 added subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-497 designated existing second sentence as
subsec. (c), substituted ``In carrying out the responsibilities under
subsection (a) or (b), respectively'' for ``In providing such guidance
and assistance,'', and inserted reference to Archivist in text preceding
par. (1).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (2) as (1).
Provisions contained in former par. (1) are now contained substantially
in subsec. (d).
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (3) as (2). Former
par. (2) redesignated (1).
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (6) as (3) and
inserted ``to collect and'', ``training programs'', and ``other
activities''. Former par. (3) redesignated (2).
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (5) as (4). Former
par. (4), which read ``serve as a clearinghouse for information with
respect to records management and as a central source for reference and
training materials with respect to records management'', was struck out.
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (7) as (5) and
struck out ``the burden placed on the Federal Government by unnecessary
paperwork'' after ``Congress on'', ``creation'' before ``maintenance'',
and ``and use, and disposition'' after ``maintenance''. Former par. (5)
redesignated (4).
Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (8) as (6) and
struck out ``with particular attention given to standards and procedures
governing records creation'' at end. Former par. (6) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (9) as (7) and
substituted ``surveys of the records and the records management programs
and practices within and between Federal agencies'' for ``records
management studies which involve a review of the programs and practices
of more than one Federal agency and which examine interaction among and
relationships between Federal agencies with respect to records and
records management''. Former par. (7) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated par. (10) as (8) and
inserted ``in January of each year'', ``the Archivist or'', and
substituted ``(7)'' for ``(9)'' and ``(6)'' and ``(7)'' for ``(8)'' and
``(9)'', respectively, in subpars. (A) and (B).
Subsec. (c)(9), (10). Pub. L. 98-497 redesignated pars. (9) and (10)
as (7) and (8), respectively.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98-497 added subsec. (d).
1980--Par. (10). Pub. L. 96-511 prescribed that the report be to
appropriate oversight and appropriations committees, incorporated
existing provisions in cls. (A) and (B) and added cl. (C).
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98-497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301
of Pub. L. 98-497, set out as a note under section 2102 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Section 5 of Pub. L. 96-511 provided: ``This Act [enacting chapter
35 of this title, amending this section, section 2905 of this title,
section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, section
1221-3 of Title 20, Education, section 1211 of Title 30, Mineral Lands
and Mining, and section 292h of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare,
and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 101 and 3503 of
this title] shall take effect on April 1, 1981.''
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law
requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other
regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103-7 (in which a
report to appropriate oversight and appropriations committees of
Congress under subsec. (c)(8) of this section is listed as the 9th item
on page 173 and as the 5th item on page 180), see section 3003 of Pub.
L. 104-66, as amended, and section 1(a)(4) [div. A, Sec. 1402(1)] of
Pub. L. 106-554, set out as notes under section 1113 of Title 31, Money
and Finance.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 2106, 3102 of this title.