A.  At the sole discretion of the public body, a public body may keep personnel records confidential:

1.  Which relate to internal personnel investigations including examination and selection material for employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline or resignation; or

2.  Where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy such as employee evaluations, payroll deductions, employment applications submitted by persons not hired by the public body  and transcripts from institutions of higher education maintained in the personnel files of certified public school employees; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to exempt from disclosure the degree obtained and the curriculum on the transcripts of certified public school employees.

B.  All personnel records not specifically falling within the exceptions provided in subsection A or D of this section shall be available for public inspection and copying including, but not limited to, records of:

1.  An employment application of a person who becomes a public official;

2.  The gross receipts of public funds;

3.  The dates of employment, title or position; and

4.  Any final disciplinary action resulting in loss of pay, suspension, demotion of position or termination.

C.  Except as may otherwise be made confidential by statute, an employee of a public body shall have a right of access to his own personnel file.

D.  The home addresses, home telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, private email addresses, and private mobile phone numbers of current and former public employees shall not be open to public inspection or disclosure; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to exempt from disclosure public records created using a private email address or private mobile phone.

E.  Except as otherwise required by Section 6-101.16 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, public bodies shall keep confidential all records created pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) which identify a current or former public employee and contain any evaluation, observation or other TLE record of such employee.

Historical Data

Laws 1985, SB 276, c. 355, § 7, eff. November 1, 1985; Amended by Laws 1990, HB 1883, c. 257, § 6, emerg. eff. May 23, 1990; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 2268, c. 177, § 1, eff. September 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 2005, HB 1728, c. 116, § 2, eff. November 1, 2005 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2014, HB 3173, c. 130, § 1, eff. November 1, 2014 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2021, HB 1876, c. 382, § 1, emerg. eff. May 3, 2021 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2022, SB 970, c. 306, § 2 (superseded document available).