General Accessibility Of Public Records

(1) The TPRA The TPRA provides that all state, county and municipal records shall, at all times during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of this state, and those in charge of the records shall not refuse such right of inspection to any citizen, unless otherwise provided by state law. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A). Accordingly, the public records of the institutions governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents are presumed ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE TENNESSEE CHAPTER 0240-01-04 BOARD OF REGENTS to be open for inspection during the regular hours of the institution’s business office, unless otherwise provided by law. (2) Institution personnel shall provide timely and efficient access and assistance to persons requesting to view or receive copies of public records. No provisions of this rule shall be used to hinder access to open public records. However, the integrity and organization of public records, as well as the efficient and safe operation of the institution shall be protected as provided by current law. Concerns about this rule should be addressed to the Public Records Request Coordinator for The Tennessee Board of Regents or to the Tennessee Office of the Attorney General and Reporter. (3) This rule is posted online on the TBR website at (TBR Open Records Rules). This rule shall be reviewed annually. (4) This rule shall be applied consistently throughout the institutions and the TBR system office. (5) Each institution shall designate a Public Records Request Coordinator (“PRRC”) and notify the TBR System Office PRRC of that person’s name and contact information.