TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 11, 2020

Legislation that would prohibit state officials from destroying records being sought by the public today passed through the Senate, the Associated Press reports. The bill was prompted by a report from the Chattanooga Times Free Press that Hamilton County had destroyed documents that were the subject of a records request submitted by the paper. During the months-long battle over the records, the county got permission from the Hamilton County Public Records Commission to destroy all records requests and responses after 30 days. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor told the AP he requested permission to destroy the records because he didn’t believe the paper was still interested in obtaining them. Under the bill, government entities found violating the new rule would be subject to a $500 fine. It also requires that public records coordinators must keep “electronic correspondence” regarding public records requests for at least one year. The legislation will now head to the House chamber.