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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 23, 2015 01:41 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Glen R. Grell |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Right-To-Know Law (prior HB 2255) |
| In the near future I will be re-introducing legislation to amend the Right-To-Know Law (RTKL) in order to clarify the issue of public accessibility to the addresses of law enforcement personnel and judges. This legislation was House Bill 2255 in the 2013-14 Session and the previous cosponsors are listed at the bottom of this memo. Currently, the RTKL provides specific exceptions regarding access to certain public records, including the following personal identification information: “The home address of a law enforcement officer or judge.” Following an inquiry by one of my constituents who is a retired police officer, I had an opportunity to raise the question of access under the RTKL with the Office of Open Records during its budget hearing with the House Appropriations Committee on February 20, 2014. The testifier from the Office of Open Records stated that, although the law does not include the terms “current”, “former” or “retired” when referring to law enforcement officers/judges, at present the agency provides protection from access for all three categories. Two recent administrative decisions handed down by the Office of Open Records support this interpretation; however, the testifier indicated that it would be prudent for the General Assembly to provide a clarification in statute. Accordingly, my bill will amend this portion of the RTKL to exempt the following information from access under the RTKL: “The home address of a current, former or retired law enforcement officer or judge.” Please join me in sponsoring this common sense measure. I believe it is vital to enhance the coverage of this exemption to preserve the personal security of our judicial and law enforcement personnel. PRIOR COSPONSORS: MARSICO , CUTLER , HEFFLEY, STERN , O'NEILL , STEPHENS, CALTAGIRONE , JAMES, BENNINGHOFF , SCHLOSSBERG, SWANGER , WATSON , DAY, W. KELLER , PICKETT , ENGLISH, R. MILLER , KORTZ , GABLER, MURT , D. COSTA, C. HARRIS , GREINER, CORBIN, BAKER , KRIEGER, GODSHALL , ROSS , SAYLOR , SACCONE, KILLION , EVERETT , HELM , MILNE , SCAVELLO , LAWRENCE, FLECK , SONNEY , GINGRICH , MAHONEY , COHEN , BROOKS , GROVE and MOUL |
Introduced as HB37