Public records can only be destroyed in accordance with which entity?

• A. The Florida Department of State
• B. Local ordinance
• C. Individual agencies’ discretion
• D. Federal regulations

Answer: (A)

Destruction of public records must follow a state-approved retention schedule. In Florida, the authority to authorize and regulate when and how records are destroyed rests with the Florida Department of State (specifically, the Division of Library and Information Services), which publishes and maintains the State Records Retention Schedule. This ensures records are kept for legally required periods and destroyed in a consistent, auditable way. Local ordinances or an individual agency’s discretion cannot replace or override that schedule, and federal regulations do not govern state and local records destruction.