1. (1) DCS charges only reasonable fees and charges for public records in order to facilitate reasonable access to public records; these fees are consistent with the Schedule of Reasonable Charges published by the OORC.
2. (2) The PRRC shall provide requester with a good faith estimate of the fees and charges prior to producing the requested records.
3. (3) When fees and charges for copies and labor do not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), the fees and charges may be waived at the discretion of the PRRC. When fees and charges for copies and labor exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), the fees may be waived at the discretion of the PRRC upon written request to the PRRC. Fees associated with aggregated records requests will not be waived.

4. (4) Fees and charges for copies and labor are as follows:

   1. (a) Fifteen cents ($0.15) per page for letter and legal size black and white copies. Size is to be determined by the Department.
   2. (b) Fifty cents ($0.50) per page for letter and legal size color copies. Size to be determined by DCS.
   3. (c) Labor charges, when time exceeds one (1) hour for time reasonably necessary to produce requested records, including time spent locating, retrieving, reviewing, reproducing, redacting, or scanning records, will vary depending on the hourly rates of the employee(s) doing the work, and may include the reasonably necessary time of an attorney.
   4. (d) No duplication costs will be charged for ten (10) or fewer pages of records. No duplication costs will be charged for records provided electronically except when paper copies that did not already exist are required to be created in responding to the request, such as when a record must be printed to be redacted.
   5. (e) Payment is to be made by check or money order payable to Department of Children’s Services and mailed or hand-delivered to Department of Children’s Services, ATTN: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES Accounts Receivable at 315 Deaderick St., UBS Tower 12th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 or to an updated address as publicly provided.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq., 10-7-503, 10-7-506, and 37-5-112; Tennessean v. Electric Power Board of Nashville, 979 S.W.2d 297 (Tenn. 1998); Wells v. Wharton, 2005 Tenn. App. Lexis 762; and Op. Tenn. Atty. Gen. 01-021 (Feb. 8, 2001). Administrative History: New rule filed May 27, 2025; effective August 25, 2025.