The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Freddie O'Connell, Mayor
Executive Order 38
Subject: Policy for the Inspection and Copying of Public Records under the Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503 et seq.)
I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct, and order the following:
1) The Tennessee Public Records Act requires every county to establish a written public records policy properly adopted by the appropriate governing authority.
2) Pursuant to provisions of the Tennessee Public Records Act, Ordinance BL2017-708 adopted the Public Records Policy for the Metropolitan Government.
3) The Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy allows certain departments, agencies, boards or commissions to choose to opt in or opt out of its application in the manner provided therein, so long as any departments, agencies, boards or commissions that opt out adopt a public records policy of their own that is compliant with the Tennessee Public Records Act.
4) The Metropolitan Government’s Public Records Policy designates the Metropolitan Clerk to serve as the Public Records Request Coordinator of all departments, agencies, boards and commissions who do not opt out of the Public Records Policy adopted by Ordinance BL2017-708. The list of departments, agencies, boards and commissions for whom the Metropolitan Clerk serves as the Public Records Request Coordinator can be found online at: Submit a Public Records Request.
5) Departments, agencies, boards and commissions who have opted out of the Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy must designate their own Public Records Request Coordinator and provide current contact information for that person to the Metropolitan Clerk. The list of departments, agencies, boards and commissions that have opted out of the Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy can be found online at: Submit a Public Records Request..
6) Section 2.140.050 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws authorizes the Public Records Commission to establish rules and regulations to expand upon and interpret the Public Records Policy of the Metropolitan Government.
7) The Public Records Commission has adopted the Public Records Policy and Procedures that apply to those departments, agencies, boards and commissions who do not opt out of the Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy. The Public Records Policy and Procedures is posted online at: Public Records Request Policy.
8) Access to public records shall be provided to any citizen of Tennessee as follows:
(i) Access to records of departments, agencies, boards or commissions that have not opted out of the Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy shall be provided in accordance with the Public Records Policy and Procedures of the Metropolitan Public Records Commission.
(ii) Access to records of departments, agencies, boards or commissions that have opted out of the Metropolitan Government Public Records Policy shall be provided in accordance with the policy of the particular department, agency, board or commission that is compliant with the Tennessee Public Records Act.
Ordered, Effective and Issued: April 1, 2024
Freddie O’Connell
Metropolitan County Mayor