Public Records Requests Generally

(1) In accordance with the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), T.C.A. §§ 10-7-503 et seq., the State Board’s public 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 or federal law. Accordingly, the public records of the State Board are presumed to be open for inspection unless an exemption is otherwise provided by law. (2) Personnel of the State Board shall provide access and assistance to Tennessee citizens requesting access to public records, in accordance with the provisions of the TPRA and this Chapter. No provision of this Chapter 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 State Board, shall be protected as provided by current law. Concerns about the provisions or enforcement of this Chapter should be addressed to the State Board’s Public Records Request Coordinator (PRRC) or to the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC). (3) The TPRA grants Tennessee citizens the right to access public records that exist at the time of the request. Nothing in the TPRA or this Chapter shall be construed as requiring a Records Custodian or the PRRC to sort through files to compile information into a new record or to create or recreate a record that does not exist. (4) In accordance with the TPRA and this Chapter, State Board personnel will respond promptly to public record requests upon proof of Tennessee citizenship by presentation of a validly issued Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee-issued photo identification that includes the Requestor’s address. If the Requestor does not possess photo identification, then other forms of identification evidencing the Requestor’s identity and Tennessee citizenship may be accepted.