NARA Bulletin 2000-02 says: "The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which takes effect in FY 2004, provides a strong impetus for agencies to develop the capability of managing records electronically for their full legal retention period."

However, the President's E-gov directive says: "The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall, to the maximum extent possible, make available online, by December 2000, the forms needed for the top 500 Government services used by the public."

While the directive leaves wiggle room for agencies who do not feel they are capable of processing forms-based information by electronic means, it appears that the hosts of the most commonly used services will generally be expected to be prepared to manage E-records as many as three years sooner than NARA suggests.

Interesting questions include: What are the top 500 Government services? And if their hosts do not currently plan to implement 5015.2-certified systems, how do they justify violating Raines' Rules and OMB Circular A-76 by reinventing the wheel via proprietary stovepipe systems?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2000