A retention schedule is the cornerstone of an effective records management program.

Arguably, the retention schedule is the most referenced document in a program's arsenal. It's purpose is to provide employees with direction as to how long their official records must be retained in accordance with laws, regulations and business need.

The Los Angeles County GRRS has been developed into a function-based series. This type of organization does not list records individually, but rather groups multiple records together by function. This allows for the consolidation of simlar record types that are assigned the same retention period. The function-based approach effectively reduces the overall number of records listed on the schedule and makes it easier for employees to use.