2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 57. Evidence and Witnesses › Article 1. Legislative Acts and Resolutions; Public Records › §57-1-7a. Use of Photographic Copies in Evidence; State Records, Papers or Documents; Destruction or Transfer to Archives of Originals; Destruction of Canceled Checks and Paid and Canceled Bonds and Coupons

(a) Any public officer of the state may, with the approval of the state records administrator, cause any or all records, papers or documents kept by him to be reproduced, by any photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or by nonerasable optical image disks (commonly referred to as compact disks) or by other records-retention technology approved by the state records administrator. These reproductions by photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or by nonerasable optical image disks shall be of durable material and the device used to reproduce such records on such film shall be one which accurately reproduces the originals thereof in all details.
The reproductions by photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or nonerasable optical image disks shall be deemed to be an original record for all purposes, including introduction in evidence in all courts or administrative agencies. A transcript, exemplification or certified copy thereof shall, for all purposes recited herein, be deemed to be a transcript, exemplification or certified copy of the original. Whenever reproductions by photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or nonerasable optical image disks have been made and put in conveniently accessible fireproof files, and provision has been made for preserving, examining and using the same, the respective heads of the departments, divisions, institutions and agencies of the state may, with the approval of the state records administrator, cause the records and papers so reproduced by photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or nonerasable optical image disks, or any part thereof, to be destroyed; but before any records, papers or documents are authorized to be destroyed, the state records administrator shall obtain the advice and counsel of the state historian and archivist, or his designated representative, as to the desirability of placing the records, papers and documents in the archives of that department. In the event the administrator is of the opinion that the record has no further administrative, legal, fiscal, research or historical value, the administrator may destroy or otherwise dispose of the record, paper or document if otherwise permitted to do so after complying with the provisions of section seventeen, article eight, chapter five-a of this code.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, the State Treasurer may at his discretion destroy any canceled checks of the state after three years have elapsed since the date of the check, whether or not such checks have been reproduced by photographic, photostatic, microphotographic or by similar miniature photographic process or nonerasable optical image disks: Provided, That any canceled bonds or interest coupons of any bond issues of this state in the custody of the treasurer, or for which the treasurer acts as fiscal agent or paying agent, may at his discretion be destroyed by one of the two methods below:
Method I - The treasurer shall maintain a permanent record for the purpose of recording the destruction of bonds and coupons, showing the following: (1) With respect to bonds, the purpose of issuance, the date of issue, denomination, maturity date and total principal amount; and (2) with respect to coupons, the purpose of issue and date of the bonds to which the coupons appertain, the maturity date of the coupons, and, as to each maturity date, the denomination, quantity and total amount of coupons.
After recording the specified information, the treasurer shall have the canceled bonds and coupons destroyed either by burning or shredding, in the presence of an employee of the treasurer and an employee of the Legislative Auditor, each of whom shall certify that he saw the canceled bonds and coupons destroyed. The certificates shall be made a part of the permanent record. Canceled bonds or coupons shall not be destroyed until after one year from the date of payment.
Method II - The treasurer may contract with any bank or trust company acting as paying agent or copaying agent for a bond issue of the state for the destruction of bonds and interest coupons which have been canceled by the paying agent. The contract shall require that the paying agent give the treasurer a certificate containing the same information required by Method I. The certificate shall be made a part of the treasurer's permanent records.
Each contract shall also require that the paying agent be responsible for proper payment and disposition of all bonds and coupons, and for any duplicate payments to unauthorized persons and nonpayment to authorized persons occurring as a result of destruction of bonds or coupons under this section. In addition, the treasurer may require the paying agent to submit an indemnity bond, in an amount to be determined by the treasurer, to assure performance of the duties specified in this section. Canceled bonds or coupons may not be destroyed until one year from the date of payment.
For purposes of this section, the term "bonds" shall include interim certificates.