fees for public records Archives - Page 3 of 9 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

20 Jan, 2017

Office of Open Records Counsel finalizes model public records policy

By Deborah Fisher|2017-01-20T16:56:25-06:00January 20, 2017|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel, requests|Tags: fees for public records, model public records policy, Office of Open Records Counsel, photos of public records, public records requests|1 Comment

The Office of Open Records Counsel has published a new model public records policy that can be used by government entities in establishing records policies, which are required by law this year. A new law mandates that all government entities in the state establish a public records policy by July 1, 2017. The policies must include the name of entity's public records request coordinator and include information about requesting public records and any fees. Open Records Counsel Ann Butterworth The model policy developed by the Open Records Counsel, along with updated Best Practices & Guidelines, includes many of the same principles and advice given previously by the office. But [...]

19 Dec, 2016

Open Records Counsel plans 2nd draft of model public records policy for ACOG

By Deborah Fisher|2016-12-20T13:30:32-06:00December 19, 2016|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel|Tags: ACOG, Adam Yeomans, Ann Butterworth, fees for public records, Janet Kleinfelter, Lee Pope, model public records policy, OORC|1 Comment

Open Records Counsel Ann Butterworth told members of the Advisory Committee on Open Government at a Friday meeting that her office will develop a second draft of a model public records policy and best practices guidelines and present them in coming weeks. ACOG, a 14-member committee appointed by the Comptroller's Office, is allowed under state law to review and provide comment on the model policy, and any other forms or schedules produced by the office. Butterworth and new deputy open records counsel Lee Pope said the office received more than 40 comments from the public and members of ACOG on its draft model policy and other eight documents and forms it [...]

9 May, 2016

Now is the time to address runaway labor fees to access public records

By Deborah Fisher|2016-05-09T12:47:11-05:00May 9, 2016|Categories: fees|Tags: fees for public records, Louis Graham, State Rep. Ulysses Jones, The Commercial Appeal|1 Comment

An editorial published in the Sunday editions of the three largest newspapers in Tennessee sent a message about public records: Louis Graham, editor of The Commercial Appeal Now is the time to address the inadequate system of charging citizens and media labor fees to review public records. The editorial points out a recent $1,600 bill paid by The Jackson Sun to track the problems that have put University of Tennessee-Martin at risk of losing accreditation. Part of that bill included $108 per hour for the interim chancellor to review emails before releasing them. The editorial, penned by Commercial Appeal editor Louis Graham, also lists other charges that newspapers have faced in [...]

2 May, 2016

Jackson Sun gets $1,600 public records bill after requesting to see accreditation emails at UT-Martin

By Deborah Fisher|2016-05-02T18:13:24-05:00May 2, 2016|Categories: fees|Tags: emails, fees for public records, Schedule of Reasonable Charges, The Jackson Sun, University of Tennessee-Martin|0 Comments

The Jackson Sun in a Sunday editorial called for reform of the state's public records fee schedule after getting a $1,600 public records bill for copies of emails about University of Tennessee at Martin's academic probation. Jackson Sun Editor Steve Coffman When UT-Martin's administrators said they didn't have specifics about the probation, the newspaper requested to review emails to and from the college's administrative and academic leadership team on the topic. What the emails showed: UTM knew it was at risk for losing accreditation for multiple years for failing to address five specific and related standards, yet did little about it. (See story: UTM repeatedly failed to fix issues that led to probation) Getting [...]

28 Apr, 2016

So what ever happened to the fees to inspect bill?

By Deborah Fisher|2022-02-11T09:31:45-06:00April 28, 2016|Categories: fees, Legislature|Tags: Ann Butterworth, fees for public records, Office of Open Records Counsel, State Rep. Steve McDaniel, State Sen. Jim Tracy|0 Comments

Last year at this time, open government advocates in the state had successfully convinced lawmakers to delay action on an ill-conceived proposal to allow government to charge fees to inspect public records. Already, the law allows charging citizens fees to get copies of records and the rules have led to out-of-control labor costs with few limits or recourse for citizens and journalists. The free inspection option is the law's safety valve, and the last protection for a citizen or journalist who can't afford the prices and the fights with government officials over costs. The sponsors of the legislation, who were carrying it at the request of the Tennessee School Boards [...]

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