(a) Local government records management officers, in conjunction with the governing body, shall approve and institute written policies and procedures that communicate the organization's approach for electronic records management practices that ensure electronic records maintain and retain reliability, usability, integrity, and authenticity.
(b) A local government's policies and procedures must:
  (1) establish a component of the local government's active and continuing records management program to address the management of electronic records created, received, retained, used, transmitted, or disposed of electronically, including electronic records maintained or managed by third-party custodians or other external entities;
  (2) integrate the management of electronic records into existing records and information resources management programs;
  (3) incorporate electronic records management objectives, responsibilities, and authorities;
  (4) address electronic records management requirements, including retention requirements and final disposition;
  (5) address the use of new technologies through regular media and format conversion, recopying, reformatting, and other necessary maintenance to ensure the retention and usability of electronic records until the expiration of their retention periods and final disposition; and
  (6) ensure transparency by documenting, in an open and verifiable manner, the processes and activities carried out in the management of electronic records.
(c) A local government's policies and procedures must ensure information that must be protected from unauthorized use or disclosure is appropriately protected as required by applicable law, regulation, or other applicable requirement.

Source Note: The provisions of this §7.73 adopted to be effective August 31, 2021, 46 TexReg 5389