exemptions Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

7 Mar, 2019

House subcommittee approves bill to improve vetting of new public records exemptions

By Deborah Fisher|2019-03-07T11:30:00-06:00March 7, 2019|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: caption bills, exemptions, Open Record Ad Hoc Committee, State Rep. Bob Ramsey, State Rep. Jason Zachary|1 Comment

A House subcommittee approved a bill on Wednesday that would change the way legislation to create new exemptions to the public records law are vetted. The bill, HB86 by state Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, will require House bills that create an exception to the Tennessee Public Records Act to be referred to the House Government Operations Committee for a positive, negative or neutral recommendation. State Rep. Jason Zachary, co-chair of the Open Records Ad Hoc Committee, said in December the task of going through 563 exemptions was too large to get done in five months. Zachary explained any such bill would then go back to the standing committee [...]

17 Dec, 2018

Open Records Committee recommends changes to exemption process

By Deborah Fisher|2018-12-18T08:00:30-06:00December 17, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: exemptions, Hamilton County Board of Education, open government law, State Rep. Jason Zachary, State Sen. Mike Bell, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, sunset provision, Tennessee Risk Management Trust|1 Comment

An open records committee that has met over the past five months to consider the growing number of exemptions to Tennessee’s Public Records Act says it will recommend a new, more robust process to vet both existing and future exemptions. State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, co-chair of an ad hoc Open Records Committee appointed by House and Senate leaders, said the task of going through 563 exemptions was too large to get done in the few months they were allotted. However, the committee is recommending two major changes: a process for sunsets on existing exemptions and more robust vetting of proposed new exemptions. “We’ve learned that Tennessee needs [...]

10 Dec, 2018

Open Records Committee to make recommendations Thursday

By Deborah Fisher|2018-12-10T12:47:48-06:00December 10, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Legislature|Tags: exemptions, Open Records Ad Hoc Committee|0 Comments

The Open Records Ad Hoc Committee will meet on Thursday for discussion and recommendations regarding the growing number of exemptions to the public records laws that allow government entities to keep some records secret. The committee has met three times, beginning in August, after being formed by Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and then-House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, who wanted an examination of exemptions that may need to be removed or placed in a sunset review process. The committee's chairmen are Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville. The other committee members are: Rep. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby Rep. Bob Ramsey, R-Maryville Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield Sen. Jeff [...]

8 Nov, 2018

Bill Lee says he will lead “complete overhaul” of public records, open meetings laws

By Deborah Fisher|2018-11-08T19:31:15-06:00November 8, 2018|Categories: Legislature, Open Meetings, Public Records|Tags: ACOG, Bill Haslam, Bill Lee, exemptions, Open Records Ad Hoc Committee|1 Comment

Governor-elect Bill Lee announced today on the priorities page of his new website that he "will lead a complete overhaul of our open records and open meetings acts" and receive public comments before he signs new laws. Gov.-elect Bill Lee says he will lead an overhaul of the public records and open meetings law to make government more transparent for citizens. Under "Open and Responsive Government," the priority says: "Tennessee taxpayers deserve a transparent and open government. Bill will initiate a new program to invite and receive public comments on new laws before signing, and he will get out of the bubble of Nashville to deliver State of the [...]

12 Sep, 2018

Open Records Ad Hoc Committee meets on Thursday

By Deborah Fisher|2018-09-12T11:12:54-05:00September 12, 2018|Categories: exemptions, Legislature, Public Records|Tags: exemptions, Open Records Ad Hoc Committee|0 Comments

The Joint Open Records Ad Hoc Committee will have it second meeting on Thursday as it tackles a review of exemptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Last month, at its inaugural meeting, the committee heard a report from Jason Mumpower, chief of staff for the Comptroller's Office, who explained a new compilation of all the statutory exemptions. He said there are now 563 exemptions in state law. (The last time a legislative committee conducted an exemption review was 30 years ago and when there were 89 exemptions.) The committee also heard a presentation and recommendations from TCOG. Several people are scheduled to give presentations on Thursday including: Janet Kleinfelter, [...]