HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new test of how government agencies respond to records requests shows that a year after Pennsylvania's revamped Right-to-Know Law took effect, it may be transforming attitudes among public officials about the public documents and information under their control. Over two days this fall, reporters and others from 33 Pennsylvania newspapers, a TV station, and a community college journalism class filed 274 requests for public records from police agencies, local government offices and school districts in an audit coordinated by The Associated Press.
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How the audit of compliance with Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law was conducted. Read More…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A wealth of information about the actions and decisions of Pennsylvania public officials has been pried loose in the year since a broad expansion of the state's Right-to-Know Law took effect. There are signs, including a recent spot check of government agencies, that the state is shedding its long-standing reputation as a public-access backwater. Read More…

Until this year, Pennsylvania's open-records law had an abysmal reputation.

But on Jan. 1, a revised Right-to-Know Law took effect. Eleven days later, the state's newly created, independent Office of Open Records began refereeing its first dispute between the public and a government agency.

Now, Mr. Davis said, as the one-year anniversary approaches, Pennsylvania's open-records law "easily" ranks in the top third across the nation -- what he called a "signal improvement."
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The public's right to know — which was enshrined in a robust new Pennsylvania law that took effect eight months ago — has become the target of roll-back efforts by local and state agencies. Read More…

The York Daily Record/Sunday News asked Kim de Bourbon, executive director of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition, some questions about the state's new open records law, which is 2½ months old. Read More…

The new state Office of Open Records ruled on six appeals, offering access to government employee dates of birth, names of government contractor employees and school board committee reports. Read More…

When Michael J. Cavanagh submitted his public records request to the Uniontown City Council, he did so with the understanding that the office would respond to the inquiry within five business days. It didn't. Read More…

PHILADELPHIA – An educational presentation on the state’s new open records law will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in Philadelphia. Read More…

On any given day Kim de Bourbon is manning the discussion boards on the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition Web site, answering questions like “What recourse is available if a county or the state refuses to respond to a request?” or “Do community colleges and state-owned universities have to answer requests for number of faculty and salaries?” Read More…