Public Records Archives - Page 35 of 74 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

16 Feb, 2017

With some pushback, House subcommittee passes bill to allow public records requests by email

By Deborah Fisher|2017-02-16T10:41:23-06:00February 16, 2017|Categories: Legislature, requests|Tags: public records requests, requests by email, State Rep. Bill Sanderson, State Rep. Bob Ramsey, State Rep. Bud Hulsey, State Rep. Courtney Rogers, State Rep. Darren Jernigan, Sumner County School Board|0 Comments

The House State Government Subcommittee passed with a voice vote on Wednesday a bill that would clarify the public records statutes to say that citizens could use email to send in their records requests if a government entity already uses email to conduct government business. The requirement would not apply if the government entity does not use email as an "official mode of communication" in recognition that some small or rural government entities may not have or use email. State Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville The bill's sponsor, Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, said the purpose of the bill (HB 58 / SB 464) is to eliminate any ambiguity in the law, and [...]

15 Feb, 2017

Interested in open government? Bills to watch in 2017 in Tennessee

By Deborah Fisher|2017-03-17T15:00:31-05:00February 15, 2017|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: charter schools, economic development records, financial disclosures, government contracts, legislation, legislature, lottery records, outsourcing, police body cameras, requests by email, vendors, voting records|0 Comments

Lawmakers have filed dozens of bill this year that could affect a citizen’s ability to get information about their local and state government. While it’s still early, here is a list of bills to watch. Economic development records HB 947 / SB 1179 - State Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin / State Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald - Makes confidential county and municipal records related to economic development. Part of this bill would make confidential any county or city economic development contracts, agreements and related records until after a contract is entered into. The other part of the bill allows a county or municipality to keep any documents confidential after a contract [...]

10 Feb, 2017

Legislation would require government to accept records requests via email

By Deborah Fisher|2017-02-10T10:14:30-06:00February 10, 2017|Categories: Legislature, requests|Tags: public records requests, requests by email, State Rep. Courtney Rogers, State Sen. Mike Bell, Sumner County School Board|0 Comments

State Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville State Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, has filed a bill that would end the practice of some government entities in Tennessee refusing to accept public records requests by email. The legislation, which is being carried in the Senate by Mike Bell, R-Riceville, says that "Requests (to see public records) may be submitted by all official modes of communication, including in person, telephone, fax, email, or other electronic means." If a request for copies is required to be in writing, citizens may submit a handwritten request or send a request by email or fill out a form, but the government entity has to provide the form [...]

9 Feb, 2017

Bill to scale back confidentiality of lottery sales

By Deborah Fisher|2017-03-17T14:58:38-05:00February 9, 2017|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: Bristol Herald Courier, exemptions, lottery records, Rebecca Hargrove, State Rep. John Crawford, State Sen. Jon Lundberg|0 Comments

Legislation has been filed that would remove an exemption that makes the location of lottery sales secret under state law. Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol Rep. John Crawford, R-Kingsport The proposed bills (S.B. 563 / H.B. 575) by state Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, and Rep. John Crawford, R-Kingsport, states as the reason "that transparency in the operation of the state lottery is essential to maintaining public confidence in the Tennessee education lottery corporation, lottery vendors, lottery retailers, and lottery games." There is a large section of the lottery law that makes confidential many aspects surrounding the operation of the lottery, including trade secrets, security systems, security reports, proposals and bids [...]

3 Feb, 2017

DA’s shutdown of public records on Gatlinburg fire goes too far

By Deborah Fisher|2018-08-06T08:51:44-05:00February 3, 2017|Categories: investigative exemption, Public Records|Tags: crime records, Gatlinburg fire, investigation exemption, juvenile court, Sevier County District Attorney Jimmy Dunn, TEMA|1 Comment

On Dec. 15, the district attorney for Sevier County issued a remarkable letter. In the most horrific disaster to ever afflict Gatlinburg, a firestorm on Nov. 28 swept into the city, killed 14 people, caused 191 injuries, and amid harrowing escapes to safety, damaged or destroyed 2,400 structures. Insurance claims have neared $1 billion. A woman looks over the rubble of her home in Gatlinburg on Dec. 3 (Source: Knoxville News Sentinel) But how government responded to the emergency — or in fact anything related to the Gatlinburg fire and the aftermath — is, in Sevier County District Attorney Jimmy Dunn’s opinion, part of a criminal investigation into [...]