(1)    In this section, “public records” has the meaning given under s. 16.61 (2) (b).

   (2)   

      (a)    The department shall prescribe, by rule, procedures for the transfer of public records and records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority to optical disc or electronic format and for the maintenance of such records stored in optical disc or electronic format, including procedures to ensure the authenticity, accuracy, reliability, and accessibility of any public records or records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority or of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority so transferred and procedures to ensure that such records are protected from unauthorized destruction.

      (b)    The department shall prescribe, by rule, procedures governing the operation of its optical disc and electronic storage facility under s. 16.62 (1) (bm).

      (c)    The department shall prescribe, by rule, qualitative standards for optical discs and for copies of documents generated from optical discs used to store public records and records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.

      (d)    The department shall prescribe, by rule, qualitative standards for the storage of public records in electronic format and for copies of public records stored in electronic format.

   (3)   Prior to submitting any proposed rule prescribed under sub. (2) to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1), the department shall refer the proposed rule to the public records board for its recommendations.