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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/23/2024 03:54 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=40081
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 6, 2023 02:32 PM
From: Representative Louis C. Schmitt, Jr.
To: All House members
Subject: Updating and Improving Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law
 
I will soon be reintroducing legislation to comprehensively update and improve Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law, passed by the House as HB2524 last session. The improvements made by this bill were reached through a lengthy process of stakeholder feedback and collaboration, and reflect a balance of priorities among agencies as well as the public’s interest in disclosure. Important updates include:
  • Additional and amended definitions to increase the law’s clarity;
  • Requiring agencies to register open records officer contact information with the OOR;
  • A new violation for disposing of requested records;
  • Refining circumstances under which incarcerated individuals may request records;
  • Additional privacy and public safety clarifications;
  • Updates to comply with recent court rulings;
  • Permission to assess reasonable, standard fees for commercial requests, with exceptions for certain request;
  • A limitation on vexatious 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 HB99