Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §95-B, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 636, §8, is further amended to read:

2. Safe or vault for preservation. Each local government shall provide a fireproof safe or vault for the preservation of all records that must be retained permanently but are not required for business purposes. The official having responsibility for those records shall deposit them in the safe or vault where those records must be kept except when required for use. Beginning in 2002, each local government shall respond to a survey distributed biennially by the State Archivist requesting:

A.__A description of the fireproof safe or vault required by this section;

B.__A statement of the adequacy of the safe or vault for the preservation of records that must be retained permanently; and

C.__A plan, if any, for the establishment or enhancement of a safe or vault to comply with the requirements of this section.

The State Archivist shall report the results of the survey, with recommendations, to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and over state and local government matters.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §95-B, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:

2-A.__Retention of archival records currently in digital form.__Beginning in 2002, each local government shall respond to a survey distributed biennially by the State Archivist requesting:

A.__A description of the provisions currently in place for the preservation of records that must be retained permanently and are currently maintained in digital form;

B.__A statement of the adequacy of those provisions for the preservation of records that must be retained permanently; and

C.__A plan, if any, for the establishment or enhancement of those provisions to ensure the permanent retention of and access to these records.