Following is a list of public records, public notice and open data bills on calendars for the week of Feb. 16-19 in the Tennessee Legislature that are among those TCOG is tracking:
S.B. 1911 (Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga) As introduced, requires the public notice of a vacancy in the office of a member of a county legislative body to be printed in a newspaper of general circulation at least 15 days prior, instead of seven days prior, to the meeting at which the office is to be filled. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for Tuesday, 2/16.
H.B. 1543 (Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville) As introduced, makes confidential the identities of vendors providing goods and services used to protect government property or government employee or citizen information. Placed on calendar for State Government Committee for Tuesday 2/16. (See story)
S.B. 1644 (Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville) As introduced, deletes requirement that a notice of intent to hold a public hearing on the termination, continuation, reestablishment, or restructuring of a governmental entity be published at least once every 90 days. Retains requirement of notice of a public hearing 10 days prior to the hearing in each of the state’s major metropolitan areas, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the tri-cities area composed of Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport. Placed on Senate Consent Calendar calendar for Wednesday, 2/17.
H.B. 2347 (Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston) As introduced, requires a local government entity to make records of proposals and statements that are received by the local government in response to a service request or a request for solicitation open for public inspection only after the contract award is announced. Placed on calendar for Local Government Subcommittee for Wednesday 2/17. Already passed in the Senate.
H.B. 2848 (Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville) As introduced, reduces from 30 days to 15 days the notice Davidson County must provide prior to a public hearing on an amendment to a county zoning ordinance. This puts Davidson County in line with every other county in the state where only 15 days notice is required. Placed on calendar for Local Government Committee for Tuesday, 2/16. Bill passed in a Senate committee and is on the Senate consent calendar for Wednesday, 2/17. (See story)
H.B. 2298 (Rep. Carson Beck, D-Nashville) As introduced, establishes confidentiality and accessibility of assessment reports compiled by the juvenile court in Davidson County. Placed on calendar for Civil Justice Subcommittee for Wednesday, 2/17
H.B. 2216 / S.B. 2427 (Rep. Jason Powell, D- Nashville / Sen. Jeff Yarbro) As introduced, creates a task force to study the feasibility of state government utilizing an open data policy. Placed on calendar for House State Government Subcommittee for Wednesday, 2/17. Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for Wednesday 2/17
H.B. 2082 (Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville) As introduced, revises requirements for protecting personally identifying information in records held by governmental entities; requires the office of open records counsel to develop a model public records policy for governmental entities; makes other related changes to public records laws. Placed on calendar for State Government Subcommittee for Wednesday, 2/17.
S.B. 1450 / H.B. 1465 (Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville) As introduced, authorizes local collecting officials of hotel taxes to publish the names of delinquent taxpayers and the amounts owed; clarifies that the present law that makes state tax records confidential does not apply to local hotel tax records. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for Tuesday 2/16. Placed on House Local Government Subcommittee for Wednesday, 2/17. (See related story by Knoxville News Sentinel)
