PRINTER'S NO. 489
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
70
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, DUSH, BOSCOLA, MARTIN, BARTOLOTTA,
PHILLIPS-HILL, AUMENT, SCHWANK, BREWSTER AND COSTA,
MARCH 15, 2023
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 15, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of March 12 through 18, 2023, as "Sunshine
Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The currently enacted version of Pennsylvania's
Sunshine Act developed from legislation introduced and
originally passed by the Senate in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law also has its
genesis in the Senate, with legislation introduced and passed as
Senate Bill No. 1 in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Both the Sunshine Act and the Right-to-Know Law
ensure public access to government information through public
meetings and public documents; and
WHEREAS, Public access to meetings and records is fundamental
to our residents' ability to be well informed of government
actions and to hold government officials accountable; and
WHEREAS, The Sunshine Act requires public agencies to hold
public meetings any time a quorum deliberates agency business or
takes official action; and
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WHEREAS, The Sunshine Act requires public agencies to allow
the public to comment on matters of agency business and to
record public meetings; and
WHEREAS, The Right-to-Know Law is based on the presumption
that records in possession of government agencies are public
records and must be provided to the public within the framework
of the law; and
WHEREAS, The Right-to-Know Law provides residents with a
fair, simple, no-cost method to appeal when a request has been
denied; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of March 12
through 18, 2023, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge all residents of this
Commonwealth to join in this observance of the basic principles
of an open and accessible government in a free society.
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