(a) The General Assembly finds that public records are essential to the administration of state and local government. Public records contain information which allows government programs to function, provide officials with a basis for making decisions and ensure continuity with past operations. Public records document the legal responsibility of government, protect the rights of citizens and provide citizens with a means of monitoring government programs and measuring the performance of public officials. State and local government records also reflect the historical development of the government and of the citizens which it serves. Such records need to be systematically managed to ensure preservation of historically valuable materials, to provide ready access to vital information and to promote the efficient and economical operation of government.
(b) The General Assembly intends by this subchapter to establish a single body of law applicable to all public officers and employees on the subject of public records management and preservation and to ensure that the procedures used to manage and preserve public records will be uniform throughout the State.
(c) The Delaware Public Archives is established as a division within the Department of State and is charged with administering, implementing and enforcing all provisions of the Delaware Public Records Law as defined in this subchapter.
(d) The Delaware Public Archives shall be the official repository for the archival records of this State and all political subdivisions thereof.
(e) This subchapter may be cited as the “Delaware Public Records Law.”