exemptions Archives - Page 3 of 12 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

6 Feb, 2019

Listen to TCOG on the Grand Divisions podcast with Rep. Jason Zachary

By Deborah Fisher|2019-02-06T08:52:37-06:00February 6, 2019|Categories: exemptions, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: Grand Divisions podcast, Open Record Ad Hoc Committee, State Rep. Jason Zachary|0 Comments

This week, I was interviewed along with state Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, on the Grand Divisions podcast about open government legislation. We primarily talked about a bill that will require a review of all existing 560-plus exemptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Zachary was the co-chair of an ad hoc joint committee, appointed by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and then-House Speaker Beth Harwell, to consider the growing list of exemptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act for those that need to be eliminated, tweaked, re-examined. Follow this link to hear the podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/user/9033845/grand-divisions-tennessee-news The Grand Divisions podcast is great for anyone interested in state politics. I've been listening since last [...]

17 Dec, 2018

Open Records Committee recommends changes to exemption process

By Deborah Fisher|2018-12-18T08:00:30-06:00December 17, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: exemptions, Hamilton County Board of Education, open government law, State Rep. Jason Zachary, State Sen. Mike Bell, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, sunset provision, Tennessee Risk Management Trust|1 Comment

An open records committee that has met over the past five months to consider the growing number of exemptions to Tennessee’s Public Records Act says it will recommend a new, more robust process to vet both existing and future exemptions. State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, co-chair of an ad hoc Open Records Committee appointed by House and Senate leaders, said the task of going through 563 exemptions was too large to get done in the few months they were allotted. However, the committee is recommending two major changes: a process for sunsets on existing exemptions and more robust vetting of proposed new exemptions. “We’ve learned that Tennessee needs [...]

10 Dec, 2018

Open Records Committee to make recommendations Thursday

By Deborah Fisher|2018-12-10T12:47:48-06:00December 10, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: exemptions, Open Records Ad Hoc Committee|0 Comments

The Open Records Ad Hoc Committee will meet on Thursday for discussion and recommendations regarding the growing number of exemptions to the public records laws that allow government entities to keep some records secret. The committee has met three times, beginning in August, after being formed by Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and then-House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, who wanted an examination of exemptions that may need to be removed or placed in a sunset review process. The committee's chairmen are Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville. The other committee members are: Rep. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby Rep. Bob Ramsey, R-Maryville Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield Sen. Jeff [...]

14 Nov, 2018

What records are open and closed on the Amazon deal?

By Deborah Fisher|2020-11-19T12:37:18-06:00November 14, 2018|Categories: exemptions|Tags: Amazon, Bob Rolfe, economic development, State Funding Board, tax credits|0 Comments

Now that Amazon has announced that it will locate a logistics hub with 5,000 big-paying jobs in Nashville, what documents related to the $102 million incentive deal are subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act? The incentives announced yesterday break down this way, as reported by news outlets: A $65 million grant from the state based on Amazon creating 5,000 jobs and investing $600 million within a seven-year period. The grant can be used for land acquisition, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure improvements and development, including, but not limited to, sewer, water and utility infrastructure, or "any other eligible activities," according to a Nov. 2 summary of state incentives obtained by [...]

30 Sep, 2018

TCOG lists 13 exemptions, exemption categories that need revision or elimination

By Deborah Fisher|2018-11-09T08:19:46-06:00September 30, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Public Records, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: economic development records, investigation exemption, investment records, lottery records, Open Records Ad Hoc Committee, prisons, private entities, public hospital boards, tax credits, TBI, University of Tennessee, vendor names|1 Comment

Tennessee Coalition for Open Government recently provided the Open Records Ad Hoc Committee 13 exemptions or categories of exemptions that are interfering with the public's right to know what government is doing. Deborah Fisher, executive director of TCOG "As you will see, many of the exemptions listed have problems related to overbreadth or vagueness that we suspect may exceed the public purpose of the exemption. We know that some of the considerations we are bringing forward were not part of the debate when the exemptions were passed by the legislature," TCOG's letter said. "While this list may not cover every exemption that impairs transparency in government, we wanted [...]