Open Records Act exemptions

27 Feb, 2014

Bill would make lottery winners secret

By |2017-03-17T14:58:21-05:00February 27, 2014|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: , , |0 Comments

A measure that would require the state lottery to include a warning label (“You will probably lose money playing the lottery”) is finding favor as it works its way through the legislature. But for those who, against all odds, actually win, perhaps another warning is needed: You will probably be hounded by cousins you didn't even know you had. State Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, seeks to help those lucky few avoid such annoyances by striking the names of lottery winners from the public record. If a winner expressly allows it, the state lottery could release the name "for marketing, advertising, or promotional purposes." Otherwise, the public doesn't get to know. Bowling [...]

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21 Feb, 2014

News Sentinel: Privacy bill of no real help to sexual assault victims

By |2014-04-09T16:50:57-05:00February 21, 2014|Categories: crime records, exemptions, Legislature|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

This editorial was published by the Knoxville News Sentinel on Feb. 16, and reprinted here with permission: A bill that would ostensibly protect the privacy of sexual assault victims in Tennessee would actually endanger criminal prosecutions and do nothing to lessen the anguish of the people it purports to help. The legislation, introduced in the Senate by Knoxville Republican Becky Duncan Massey at the request of Metro Nashville government, would make all records containing virtually any information about a sexual assault victim confidential. “No portion of any report, paper, picture, photograph, video, court file, or other document in the custody or possession of any public officer or employee which identifies [...]

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12 Feb, 2014

Tennessean editorial asks “Sexual assault privacy bill: protecting victims or those in power?”

By |2014-04-09T16:48:42-05:00February 12, 2014|Categories: crime records, exemptions|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The Tennessean publishes an editorial against proposed legislation that exempts parts of sexual assault crime records from the public records law. The editorial is reprinted here with permission: State legislation backed by Metro Nashville, supposedly to protect the privacy of victims of sexual assault, has many implications for our state, but helping rape victims is not among them. Senate Bill 2254 is first and foremost an attempt to intimidate news media organizations throughout Tennessee, as they pursue a lawsuit against Metro over its refusal to release records in the rape investigation involving former Vanderbilt University football players. The Tennessean is among the news organizations that filed the suit last week. But [...]

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12 Feb, 2014

The Tennessean: Bill would shield ID and personal information of rape victims

By |2014-04-09T16:49:44-05:00February 12, 2014|Categories: crime records, exemptions, Legislature|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

A Feb. 10 story by The Tennessean's crime and courts reporter Brian Haas, reprinted here with permission: Proposed state legislation pushed by Metro Nashville could hide information on rape cases from the public and prevent defense attorneys from discussing key evidence with their clients. Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, filed the bill at the behest of Metro’s legal department. The bill, if passed, would shield the identity and personal information of rape victims. But, as written, critics say it could not only turn rape into an “invisible crime,” but could also interfere with a defendant’s right to a fair trial by preventing attorneys from discussing key evidence with their clients. [...]

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4 Feb, 2014

Tennessee Tower story exposes deal secret under records law

By |2019-09-11T16:13:42-05:00February 4, 2014|Categories: economic development, exemptions|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Phil Williams, chief investigative reporter for NewsChannel 5, uncovered confidential state documents that outline an economic development proposal to give Tennessee Tower to the Sears Corporation if it moved its headquarters to Nashville. The state told Williams that the Tennessee Tower "never really got serious consideration and that the governor never delivered those words drafted for him by his economic development team" for a video presentation. But they wouldn't let him see the video Haslam did record. Following is an excerpt from the script obtained by Williams. You can go to the story on NewsChannel5 and read the whole thing: "We're so committed to making your new home in Tennessee [...]

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