In this subtitle, “business record” includes: a book of account; a canceled check; a document; a letter; a payroll; a production report or other record that relates to equipment, personnel, or sales; and a voucher.

This subtitle applies to each private business, occupation, private institution, and profession, whether or not carried on for profit.

This subtitle does not diminish the authority of an officer of the State to allow the destruction of a business record.

This section does not apply to: a minute book of a corporation; or a record of a sale or other transaction that involves a weapon or poison that can be used in committing a crime. Unless a specific period is set by law for the preservation of a business record that is required by the laws of this State to be kept, the business record may be destroyed 3 years after it is made.

In this section, “reproduction” means a reproduction or durable medium for making a reproduction obtained by a photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic, or other process that accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for so reproducing the original. If, in the regular course of business, a person makes a reproduction of an original business record, the preservation of the reproduction complies with a requirement of a law of the State that the business record be kept.

This subtitle shall be construed and interpreted to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of the states that enact this subtitle.

This subtitle is the Maryland Uniform Preservation of Private Business Records Act.