Tennessee House Bill HB0811

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 86; Title 10 and Title 38, relative to records.

Impact

The amendment suggests a shift towards greater transparency in government operations by allowing more time for individuals and entities to access public records. By increasing the duration for which records must be retained, the bill aims to facilitate better public access to information, enabling citizens to engage more actively with their government. This could potentially lead to increased accountability, as agencies will be required to hold onto records for a longer period, thus allowing for more thorough inquiries and checks by the public.

Summary

House Bill 0811 proposes amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically aiming to change the retention period for certain records. The bill seeks to extend the time frame for retaining these records from 'ten (10) days' to 'twenty (20) days'. This change is intended to enhance the accessibility of public records and improve the efficiency of public record-handling procedures within state and local government agencies.

Contention

While supporters of HB0811 may argue that the increase in retention time fosters transparency and enhances the public’s ability to interact with government records, there are potential contentions concerning the administrative burden this may impose on state and local agencies. Critics may raise concerns about the additional costs and resources required to manage these longer retention times. Some may view this as an unnecessary complication that could hinder the efficiency of public record management.