Public Records Archives - Page 51 of 74 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

12 Oct, 2015

TN Senate Judiciary hearing to include body camera legislation

By Deborah Fisher|2015-10-13T07:09:17-05:00October 12, 2015|Categories: crime records, Legislature|Tags: legislature, police body cameras, State Representative Brenda Gilmore, State Senator Sara Kyle|0 Comments

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m Monday, Oct. 19, to discuss several criminal justice issues, including the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement. Many law enforcement agencies across the country are moving toward the use of body cameras as a way to improve policing and accountability after a series of high-profile incidents in which police were perceived to have used excessive force in dealing with suspects. Also, the federal government has begun to fund body-worn cameras at the local level through federal grants. But the use of body cams has raised several questions concerning disclosure of video under public records laws, citizen privacy, the cost of storage and redaction, [...]

7 Oct, 2015

What’s behind the fees for inspection bill? NewsChannel 5+ Open Line discussion

By Deborah Fisher|2015-10-07T17:28:56-05:00October 7, 2015|Categories: fees|0 Comments

WTVF NewsChannel5+ hosted a discussion last week on the recent public hearings and issues around the fees for inspection proposal. (Background here.) I represented Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, and Lee Harrell, director of government relations for the Tennessee School Boards Association, spoke about his group's initiation of the bill and what led to it. NewsChannel5 veteran reporter Ben Hall moderated the discussion and call-in questions from viewers. The four parts of the video are available for viewing on the NewsChannel5+ Open Line web page. Here are links to the 4 video segments, each about 10 minutes. Video 1 - How did the legislation come up, and what's the impact? Video [...]

3 Oct, 2015

Jack McElroy: ‘Bad actors’ seize stage in state’s public records debate; school districts try to block request for Islam curriculum

By Deborah Fisher|2019-09-11T18:55:27-05:00October 3, 2015|Categories: Public Records|0 Comments

A public records request for documents related to the teaching of world religions as part of world history in Tennessee middle schools has caught some attention around the state - mainly because it involves the hot-button issue of Islam. Question of Islam: Knox Schools asked to show its curriculum The American Center for Law & Justice made the request, penned by its lawyer in Franklin. But many school districts around the state have denied it after their lawyer advised them they did not have to provide records to someone who is not a Tennessee citizen. He reasoned that the Franklin lawyer was asking on behalf of the Washington D.C.-based ACLJ, which is [...]

18 Sep, 2015

Murfreesboro Post: Sen. Jim Tracy – ‘I’m never gonna run that bill’

By Deborah Fisher|2019-09-11T18:54:56-05:00September 18, 2015|Categories: fees|Tags: fees for public records, Murfreesboro Post, Office of Open Records Counsel, State Sen. Jim Tracy|1 Comment

State Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville The Murfreesboro Post caught up with state Sen Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, after the public hearings this week. Tracy, at the request of the Tennessee School Boards Association, sponsored their bill to allow new fees to be charged against citizens who want to see public records. Tracy told Murfreesboro Post reporter Sam Stockard that he wanted to put some teeth in the law to go after the "bad actors" on both sides -- government officials who were delaying or obstructing requests, and those who were requesting emails from entire school boards or county commissions. (Tracy told Tennessee Coalition for Open Government the same thing earlier this [...]

17 Sep, 2015

Audio from public hearings on public records fees posted

By Deborah Fisher|2015-09-17T09:13:42-05:00September 17, 2015|Categories: fees|Tags: fees for public records|0 Comments

The Tennessee Comptroller has posted audio from the first two hearings in Knoxville and Nashville on its YouTube channel. The Jackson hearing occurs later today at 3 p.m. central time. Audio from Nashville hearing on proposed public records fees Audio from Knoxville hearing on proposed public records fees