The "Strengthening Oversight of Federal Records Act of 2024" introduces reforms for safeguarding federal records. It includes measures for preserving electronic records and messages, enhancing whistleblower protections, promoting proactive disclosure of records, and setting up an advisory committee on records automation.

The section updates rules for preserving electronic records in federal agencies. It requires that electronic messages created or used in non-official accounts be copied to official accounts, outlines safeguards for proper documentation, and adds definitions for terms like “complete copy” and “readable” to ensure that records are complete and usable for government business.

The section clarifies that the term "whistleblower protections" refers to its definition in the United States Code and ensures that these protections for government agency employees are not hindered or impaired by changes made in a different section of the law.

The section requires federal agencies to preserve electronic messages by senior officials as permanent records. Agencies must adhere to guidelines set by the Archivist, categorize senior positions, and report compliance and message volumes every five years, with those reports made publicly accessible online.

The section requires the Archivist to create rules ensuring that electronic messages from important federal agency employees are permanently saved and easily accessible. It also mandates federal agencies to report every five years on their compliance with these rules, including making the reports available to the public online.

The bill requires the Archivist to make records retention schedules available online within 30 days of approval and to maintain them in a searchable database. It mandates federal agencies to submit existing schedules for publication and ensures all materials are easily accessible and understandable by the public.

The section introduces a requirement for heads of federal agencies to create policies ensuring that employees declare whether they have followed record-keeping rules before they leave their job. It also updates the list of sections in the law to include this requirement.

The head of each federal agency must make sure that there are rules in place for employees to follow before they leave their job. These rules require employees to certify whether they have followed the guidelines for keeping records.

The section modifies how federal agencies handle the unlawful removal or destruction of records by requiring agency heads to notify the Archivist and inform Congress if such incidents occur. It also mandates coordination with the Attorney General to recover records and updates Congress on the situation, while involving Inspectors General in the review process if necessary.

The section updates how federal employees' performance plans should include records management requirements. It mandates agency heads to work with specific authorities to create criteria that outline these requirements.

The bill establishes an Advisory Committee on Records Automation within the National Archives and Records Administration to improve government record-keeping through automation, make records more accessible, and offer advice on related matters. The committee, made up of public and private sector members, will meet regularly, report its findings to various government bodies, and is authorized a budget of $3 million per year for two years, ending 90 days after its final report.

The section modifies a part of the United States Code related to archivist regulations by updating references, adding a requirement for documenting metadata, and instructing the Archivist to regularly update guidance on these regulations.

The "Strengthening Oversight of Federal Records Act of 2024" focuses on improving the management and preservation of federal records. It aims to protect electronic records, enhance whistleblower protections, ensure important messages are saved, promote transparency in record-keeping, and introduce measures to prevent unlawful destruction of records, while also planning for better records management and automation.

The section outlines rules to ensure that federal electronic records are preserved properly. It mandates that any records created or sent using a non-official account must be copied or forwarded to an official account and introduces definitions to clarify terms like "complete copy" and "readable" in the context of record management.

The section explains that the term "whistleblower protections" is defined according to U.S. law and clarifies that changes to a specific law will not affect the rights of government employees to receive those protections.

The section requires government agencies to save electronic messages from top officials permanently and make them easy to find. It lists who these officials are and mandates agencies to report every five years on how well they are doing this and make these reports publicly available online.

The section requires the Archivist to create rules for preserving electronic messages from senior officials in federal agencies. These rules ensure important messages are kept permanently, can be easily searched, and cover a broad range of senior positions. Additionally, federal agencies must report their compliance with these rules to the Archivist and make these reports public every five years.

The bill requires the Archivist to make records retention schedules available online within 30 days of approval and to maintain them in a searchable database. It mandates federal agencies to submit existing schedules for publication and ensures all materials are easily accessible and understandable by the public.

The section amends Chapter 29 of title 44, United States Code, to require each federal agency to have policies ensuring that employees certify they have preserved records before they leave their job. The agency head must receive this certification before the employee's departure.

The head of each federal agency must make sure that there are rules in place for employees to follow before they leave their job. These rules require employees to certify whether they have followed the guidelines for keeping records.

The section outlines the responsibilities of Federal agencies regarding the notification and remedy of unlawful removal or destruction of records. It requires agency heads to notify the Archivist and take action through the Attorney General to recover or restore records and address non-compliance with record-keeping requirements. It also details the process if the Archivist becomes aware of any such violations, including coordinating with the agency and referring the matter for corrective action.

The section updates how federal employees' performance plans should include records management requirements. It mandates agency heads to work with specific authorities to create criteria that outline these requirements.

The bill establishes an "Advisory Committee on Records Automation" within the National Archives to improve government recordkeeping through automation. This committee, consisting of up to 15 members from both the public and private sectors, will provide advice on managing records more efficiently, suggesting how to use automated tools. It will meet at least three times a year, and members won't get paid for their service. The committee will end 90 days after it submits its final report to Congress, and there is a budget of $500,000 for each of the years 2025 and 2026.

The section modifies a part of the United States Code related to archivist regulations by updating references, adding a requirement for documenting metadata, and instructing the Archivist to regularly update guidance on these regulations.