Tennessee Coalition for Open Government Archives - Page 15 of 21

8 Dec, 2016

Read TCOG’s comments on proposed model public records policy

By Deborah Fisher|2017-02-20T09:04:33-06:00December 8, 2016|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel, requests, TCOG letters, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: Adam Yeomans, Advisory Committee on Open Government, Ann Butterworth, citizen id, model public records policy, Office of Open Records Counsel, open data, public records requests, requests by email, Sumner County School Board, TCOG news|0 Comments

TCOG Letter on Model Public Records Policy 12-7-16 Tennessee Coalition for Open Government provided written feedback Wednesday on the Office of Open Records Counsel's proposed "Best Practices & Guidelines and Model Public Records Policy." This policy is important because it is intended as a model for all government entities in the state as they move to adopt public records policies as required by a new law. Parts of the guidelines and model policy are beneficial to citizens and government entities -- such as an emphasis on the statutory requirement that public records requests be handled promptly. Adam Yeomans is TCOG's representative on the Advisory Committee on Open Government. He is [...]

5 Dec, 2016

TCOG encourages citizens to comment on draft model public records policy

By Deborah Fisher|2016-12-05T13:12:20-06:00December 5, 2016|Categories: Public Records, requests, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: advisory opinions, citizen id, Ken Jakes, model public records policy, Office of Open Records Counsel, open data, requests by email, State Rep. Bill Dunn, State Sen. Richard Briggs, Sumner County School Board, TCOG news|0 Comments

The Office of Open Records Counsel is giving the public a chance to review and comment on a draft of a statewide model public records policy. A new law requires all government entities in Tennessee to adopt a public records policy by July 1, 2017. [T.C.A. §10-7-503 (g)]. The law also requires the Office of Open Records Counsel, a state agency housed in the State Comptroller’s Office, to develop a model best practices and public records policy that can be used by the government entities. The deadline for commenting is Dec. 15. Comments and feedback should be sent to [email protected]. The model draft policy is extensive and includes many new guidelines [...]

5 Dec, 2016

Law requiring public records policy

By Deborah Fisher|2016-12-05T10:14:41-06:00December 5, 2016|Categories: Public Records, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: legislation, model public records policy, State Rep. Bill Dunn, State Sen. Richard Briggs|0 Comments

T.C.A. § 10-7-503(g) (g) No later than July 1, 2017, every governmental entity subject to this section shall establish a written public records policy properly adopted by the appropriate governing authority. The public records policy shall not impose requirements on those requesting records that are more burdensome than state law and shall include: (1) The process for making requests to inspect public records or receive copies of public records and a copy of any required request form; (2) The process for responding to requests, including redaction practices; (3) A statement of any fees charged for copies of public records and the procedures for billing and payment; and (4) The name [...]

16 Nov, 2016

TCOG, League of Women Voters to host body camera forum in December

By Deborah Fisher|2016-12-01T08:56:37-06:00November 16, 2016|Categories: crime records, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: Dawn Deaner, Hedy Weinberg, League of Women Voters, police body cameras, Steve Anderson, TCOG event|1 Comment

The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and the Nashville Chapter of the League of Women Voters will host a body camera forum, "Police Body Cameras: From Privacy to Accountability -- What Citizens Should Know," Dec. 7 in Nashville. It is free and open to the public. A panel discussion, followed by audience questions and comments, will feature Lonnell Matthews, director of the mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement; ACLU-Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg; and Davidson County Public Defender Dawn Dean. The event will be from 4-5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the First Amendment Center at 1207 18t Avenue South. Two weeks ago, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry [...]

14 Nov, 2016

Comptroller appoints new members to Advisory Committee on Open Government

By Deborah Fisher|2016-11-14T15:25:19-06:00November 14, 2016|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: Adam Yeomans, Advisory Committee on Open Government, Debbie Shedden, Dennis Weber, Kathryn Strong, Maya Siggers, Office of Open Records Counsel, Rick Hollow|0 Comments

Six new members have been named to the 14-member Advisory Committee on Open Government (ACOG), representing six organizations. They are: TCOG representative: Adam Yeomans, Associated Press Regional Director for the South, replaces Memphis attorney Lucian Pera as TCOG's representative. Yeomans is vice president of TCOG's Board of Directors. Pera, TCOG's president, has served for the past two years. Tennessee Press Association representative: Jack McElroy, editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel, replaces Knoxville attorney Richard Hollow. McElroy is the most recent past president of TPA. Tennessee Municipal League representative: Maya Siggers, assistant city attorney for the city of Memphis, replaces Chad Jenkins. Jenkins had been the Tennessee Municipal League [...]