Custodian is defined as?

• A. The elected or appointed state, county, or municipal officer charged with the responsibility of maintaining the office having public records, or his or her designee.
• B. An external auditor.
• C. A private records manager.
• D. The head of the department only.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the custodian is the official in charge of keeping the office’s public records and handling requests for those records. This role isn’t limited to the person who is the head of the department; it can be someone the official designates to manage, store, and provide access to the records. This designation ensures there is a clear point of accountability for how records are kept and disclosed under public records laws.

Why this is the best fit: it directly reflects the standard definition used in public records practice—an elected or appointed official responsible for maintaining the office’s records, or their designee. It emphasizes both custody and the responsibility for access and disclosure.

Why the other options don’t fit: an external auditor isn’t responsible for maintaining public records; a private records manager operates outside the public body’s official custodial framework; and the custodian isn’t restricted to the head of the department only—the designation portion is essential to cover who handles the records when the head isn’t doing so personally.