advisory opinions

16 Nov, 2018

Using cell phones to take pictures of public records? Here’s what the Open Records Counsel says

By |2020-11-19T12:52:45-06:00November 16, 2018|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Earlier this year, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government requested an informal advisory opinion from the Office of Open Records Counsel about taking pictures of public records with cell phones. We asked: 1 - Does the law allow a records custodian to prohibit citizens from using a camera to take pictures of public records “in all cases” where the law gives the citizen a “right to inspect” such records under the plain language of §T.C.A. 10-7-506(a) of the Tennessee Public Records Act. 2 - The Model Policy created by the Office of Open Records Counsel seems to give records custodians open-ended discretion to allow or not allow the use of personal [...]

14 Dec, 2016

TCOG’s comments to proposed changes, additions to Office of Open Records Counsel forms, guidelines

By |2021-02-02T12:21:22-06:00December 14, 2016|Categories: Office of Open Records Counsel, requests, TCOG letters, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

TCOG Letter on Proposed OORC forms 12-14-16. The Office of Open Records Counsel, in addition to creating a model public records policy, is proposing changes to the Schedule of Reasonable Charges, model forms and advisory opinions guidelines. In total, nine documents, including three new forms and two new guidelines, are under revision or are new. These documents are important because they provide guidance on what is allowed by law in the public records request process. The main changes proposed have to do with clarifying the public records request/response process. The office is also proposing that it have new discretion on whether or not to issue Advisory Opinions, which must be posted [...]

5 Dec, 2016

TCOG encourages citizens to comment on draft model public records policy

By |2016-12-05T13:12:20-06:00December 5, 2016|Categories: Public Records, requests, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |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 [...]

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