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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/24/2024 06:28 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20210&cosponId=36862
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: February 14, 2022 03:42 PM
From: Representative Louis C. Schmitt, Jr.
To: All House members
Subject: Legislation to substantially update and improve Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law
 
I will soon be introducing legislation to substantially update and improve Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law, last refined in 2008. In recent years, we have learned a great deal from covered entities at all levels of Pennsylvania government regarding the benefits and difficulties presented by the current law’s provisions. It is now time to apply those lessons and to strengthen this vital facet of government transparency in our state.
Important updates proposed by my legislation will include, among others:
  • Additional and amended definitions to increase the law’s clarity;
  • Requiring agencies to register open records officer contact information with the OOR;
  • Permitting agencies to ask requesters whether records will be used for commercial purposes;
  • A new violation for disposing of requested records;
  • Refining circumstances under which incarcerated individuals may request records;
  • A new penalty for false certification relating to commercial requests;
  • Additional privacy and public safety clarifications;
  • Updates to comply with recent court rulings;
  • Permission to assess reasonable, standard fees for commercial requests, with an exception for media requests.
These and other improvements to the Right to Know Law will ensure an improved balance between transparency, privacy, and the efficient use of resources by government entities. Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation.
 


Introduced as HB2524