South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 12 - SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Article 3 - GENERAL RETENTION SCHEDULE FOR STATE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS
Section 12-300 - Introduction and General Matters; Application of Schedule

The following general records retention schedule contains minimum retention periods for the official copy of the agency's records. These retentions and dispositions apply regardless of physical format, i.e., paper, microfilm, electronic storage, digital imaging, etc. Convenience, informational or duplicate copies are not governed by this regulation and may be destroyed when no longer needed for reference. To destroy records in accordance with this regulation, state agencies must complete and submit a report of records destroyed form to the State Archives after eligible records have been destroyed. These forms are available from the Department's Division of Archives and Records Management. State agencies must also contact the State Archives to transfer permanent records to the State Archives for archival retention. Before disposing of public records under this general schedule, state agencies are responsible for ensuring that records are no longer required for federal or state audits, for legal purposes, for litigation, for fiscal information, and/or for any other action. This general schedule supersedes all schedules approved previously for the same records series. However, state agencies may opt out of this general schedule, and request the continuing use of existing schedules or the establishment of specific retention schedules for their records when appropriate, necessary or in order to avoid conflict with other laws and regulations.