Purpose And Scope

(1) Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503(g), the following rules regarding public records for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation are adopted to provide economical and efficient access to public records as provided under the Tennessee Public Records Act (“TPRA”) in Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 10-7-501, et seq. (2) 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 Bureau of Workers’ Compensation are presumed to be open for inspection unless otherwise provided by law. See Rule 0800-02-29-.08 below for exemptions. (3) Designated personnel of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation shall timely and efficiently provide access and assistance to persons properly requesting to inspect or receive copies of public records. No provisions of these rules 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 Bureau of Workers’ Compensation shall be protected as provided by current law. Questions regarding public record requests should be addressed to the Records Custodian for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.