/* BBS LEGAL GUIDE COMMENTARY: The Uniform Preservation of

Private Business Records Act, adopted in 1954 follows. This act,

although adopted only in Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire and

Oklahoma, sets a standard for the length of time that business

records must be kept. Note that if another statute requires

retention for a longer period of time, the longer statute

applies. In many instances corporations have made specific

policies for record destruction. The "Pack rat" syndrome has come

to haunt a few firms, when partial records from many years past

come to haunt them. */

Uniform Preservation of Private Business Records Act (1954)

Section 1. Definitions.

As used in this Act:

"Business" includes every kind of private business, profession,

occupation, calling or operation of private institutions whether

carried on for profit or not.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or any

other association.

"Records" or "Business Records" includes books of account,

vouchers, documents, canceled checks, payrolls, correspondence

record of sale, personnel, equipment and production, reports

relation to any or all of such records and other business papers.

"Reproduction" means a reproduction or durable medium for making

a reproduction obtained by photographic, photostatic, microfilm,

microcard, miniature photographic or other process which

accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for so

reproducing the original.

Section 2. Period of Preservation.

Unless a specific period is designated by law for their

preservation, business records which persons by the laws of this

state are required to keep or preserve may be destroyed after the

expiration of three years of making such records without

constituting an offense under such laws. This section does not

apply to minute books of corporation nor to records of sales or

other transaction involving weapons, poisons or other dangerous

articles or substances capable of use in the commission of

crimes.

Section 3. Preservation of reproductions

if in the regular course of business a person makes reproductions

of original business records, the preservation of such

reproductions constitutes compliance with any laws of this State

requiring that business records be kept or preserved.

Section 4. Destruction of Records by State Officers

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the authority

of an officer of this State under existing law to permit the

destruction of business records.

Section 5. Uniformity of Interpretation.

This Act shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate

its general purpose to make uniform the laws of those states

which enact it.

Section 6. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Uniform Preservation of Private

Business Records Act.