Maintenance of records
Wis. Stat. § 233.12
in effect(1)
(a) Subject to rules promulgated by the department of administration under s. 16.611, the authority may transfer to or maintain in optical disc or electronic format any record in its custody and retain the record in that format only.
(b) Subject to rules promulgated by the department of administration under s. 16.611, the authority shall maintain procedures to ensure the authenticity, accuracy, reliability, and accessibility of records transferred to or maintained in optical disc or electronic format under par. (a).
(c) Subject to rules promulgated by the department of administration under s. 16.611, if the authority transfers to or maintains in optical disc or electronic format any records in its custody, the authority shall ensure that the records stored in that format are protected from unauthorized destruction.
(2)
(a) Any microfilm reproduction of an original record of the authority, or a copy generated from an original record stored in optical disc or electronic format, is considered an original record if all of the following conditions are met:
1. Any device used to reproduce the record on film or to transfer the record to optical disc or electronic format and generate a copy of the record from optical disc or electronic format accurately reproduces the content of the original.
2. The reproduction is on film which complies with the minimum standards of quality for microfilm reproductions, as established by rule of the public records board, or the optical disc or electronic copy and the copy generated from optical disc or electronic format comply with the minimum standards of quality for such copies, as established by rule of the department of administration under s. 16.611.
3. The film is processed and developed in accordance with the minimum standards established by the public records board.
4. The record is arranged, identified, and indexed so that any individual document or component of the record can be located with the use of proper equipment.
5. The custodian of the record designated by the authority executes a statement of intent and purpose describing the record to be reproduced or transferred to optical disc or electronic format and the disposition of the original record, and executes a certificate verifying that the record was received or created and microfilmed or transferred to optical disc or electronic format in the normal course of business and files the statement in the offices of the authority.
(b) The statement of intent and purpose executed under par. (a) 5. is presumptive evidence of compliance with all conditions and standards prescribed by this subsection.
(3)
(a) Any microfilm reproduction of a record of the authority meeting the requirements of sub. (2) or copy of a record of the authority generated from an original record stored in optical disc or electronic format in compliance with this section shall be taken as, stand in lieu of, and have all the effect of the original document and shall be admissible in evidence in all courts and all other tribunals or agencies, administrative or otherwise, in all cases where the original document is admissible.
(b) Any enlarged copy of a microfilm reproduction of a record of the authority made as provided by this section or any enlarged copy of a record of the authority generated from an original record stored in optical disc or electronic format in compliance with this section that is certified by the custodian as provided in s. 889.08 shall have the same force as an actual-size copy.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/233.12Fetched: 10/7/2026