House File 2323 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WATTS Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the preservation of and access to historical 2 court records. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5286YH 82 5 jm/nh/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 602.1615 HISTORICAL RECORD 1 2 PRESERVATION. 1 3 The clerk of the district court shall consult with a 1 4 recognized county historical society or association to ensure 1 5 preservation of historical court records and to provide public 1 6 access to such records as provided in section 602.8103. 1 7 Sec. 2. Section 602.8103, subsection 3, Code Supplement 1 8 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 9 3. After the original record is reproduced and after 1 10 approval of a majority of the judges of the district court by 1 11 court order, destroy the original records including, but not 1 12 limited to, dockets, journals, scrapbooks, files, and marriage 1 13 license applications. The order shall state the specific 1 14 records which are to be destroyed. An original court file 1 15 shall not be destroyed until after consultation with a 1 16 recognized historical society or association, and the contents 1 17 have been reproduced. As used in this subsection and 1 18 subsection 4, "destroy" includes the transmission of the 1 19 original records which are of general historical interest to 1 20 any recognized historical society or association. 1 21 1 22 EXPLANATION 1 23 This bill relates to the preservation of and access to 1 24 historical court records. 1 25 The bill requires the clerk of the district court to 1 26 consult with a recognized county historical society or 1 27 association prior to the destruction of a court file to ensure 1 28 the preservation of and public access to such records. 1 29 LSB 5286YH 82 1 30 jm/nh/14