Public Records Archives - Page 12 of 74 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

1 Mar, 2021

Bill would make confidential police video, contact info of those arrested and detained

By Deborah Fisher|2021-03-01T13:21:56-06:00March 1, 2021|Categories: crime records, Legislature|Tags: body cameras, crime records, Glen Casada, State Sen. Jack Johnson|0 Comments

Proposed legislation by state Rep. Glen Casada and state Sen. Jack Johnson would make confidential police video of someone arrested or detained and not subject to the public records law. The bill also would close contact information of those arrested, including the home address and phone number. HB 910 is scheduled to heard by the House Public Service Subcommittee at its Wednesday meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. The bill would add an exemption to the public records act that says: (1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, personal identifying information compiled by and in the possession of municipal and county law enforcement agencies and detention facilities concerning any [...]

14 Feb, 2021

New ‘proprietary’ exemption would shield data about state insurance plan

By Deborah Fisher|2021-02-14T20:07:48-06:00February 14, 2021|Categories: Legislature, Public Records|Tags: health insurance, proprietary records, State Rep. Martin Daniel, State Rep. Pat Marsh, trade secrets|0 Comments

A proposed public records exemption would make confidential "all proprietary information" received by the state from its health insurance contractors, including but not limited to information or data about reimbursement rates paid through the state's self-funded employee health plan. Access to information showing the disparities in payments to health care providers for the same services became an issue in 2019 when then-state Rep. Martin Daniel of Knoxville sought to get data to see if the state was reaping savings it should. After Daniel sought the information, the three large health care companies who contract with the state to administer the state’s employee health care plan — BlueCross Blue Shield of [...]

12 Feb, 2021

House subcommittee to consider expanding confidentiality of college president searches

By Deborah Fisher|2021-02-14T18:31:49-06:00February 12, 2021|Categories: Legislature, state records|Tags: Advisory Committee on Open Government, college president selection, Rep. Mark White, University of Tennessee|0 Comments

A House subcommittee is scheduled on Tuesday to consider a bill that would expand the confidentiality around applicants for the chief executive positions at state colleges. State Rep. Mark White is sponsoring a bill to expand the confidentiality related to filling top positions of president and chancellor at all state colleges. HB 473, sponsored by state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, would allow a search committee to keep confidential the identity of applicants for the president or chancellor positions at all state colleges except for the finalist or finalists selected. The bill would allow a search committee to reveal only the single finalist they select, although the committee [...]

15 Jan, 2021

Revised bill aims to stop harassment from public records requesters
Gallery
Revised bill aims to stop harassment from public records requesters

Legislature, requests

Revised bill aims to stop harassment from public records requesters

By Deborah Fisher|2021-02-02T14:40:26-06:00January 15, 2021|Categories: Legislature, requests|0 Comments

State Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, is bringing back a bill to give government entities tools to stop harassment from public records requesters. A bill to give government officials tools to stop what they view as harassment through public records requests was filed this week by state Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin. The bill is similar to a version that failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee last year on a 5-4 vote, but has some key changes. After the bill failed last year, Haile asked the Advisory Committee on Open Government to review it and give suggestions. State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, is carrying the House version. Haile plans more changes to [...]

6 Jan, 2021

Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case
Gallery
Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case

public records lawsuits Tennessee

Knox County sheriff to appeal judge’s decision in public records case

By Deborah Fisher|2021-01-27T16:50:01-06:00January 6, 2021|Categories: public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: attorney's fees, Chancellor John Weaver, David Buuck, Knox County Sheriff, Meghan Conley, public records requests|0 Comments

The Knox County Sheriff's Office has filed notice to appeal its loss in a public records case in which the judge found it violated the law in denying access to records requested by a University of Tennessee professor. Chancellor John Weaver in April ordered the sheriff's office to comply with provisions of the public records act governing responses to public records requests and to implement a system to allow public inspection of arrest records. Weaver in December also awarded $78,007 in attorney's fees to the professor who had to bring the lawsuit to force the sheriff's office to turn over records. Knox County Law Director David Buuck's office has filed [...]