Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, prime sponsor of the 2008 Right to Know Law, has responded [letter below] to concerns raised by newspapers and others regarding Senate Bill 1469. That bill, which passed the Senate with no negative votes this month, would have amended the Right to Know Law to restrict access to government contractor records, charge the public for viewing a public record, and expand access to 911 time response logs and drafts considered at public meetings, among other things. Senator Pileggi intends to introduce a new bill in January and promises a public, methodical approach to amending the law.

---

Submitted to Headlines & Deadlines (PNA newsletter)

Under Pennsylvania’s new Right-to-Know Law, thousands of people have been granted access to records they never would have seen previously. As the prime-sponsor of that law, Act 3 of 2008, I am fully aware of the culture of secrecy that existed far too long in our state.

A number of recent editorials criticized Senate Bill 1469, which I introduced last month and which would make several changes to the Right-to-Know Law. One of my goals in introducing SB 1469 was to start a public conversation about how the new law can be improved.

Naturally, “improving” the law means different things to different people.

As most of the editorials noted, SB 1469 includes several provisions which would increase access to government records, including requirements that the results of all inspections conducted pursuant to law and documents distributed and discussed at public meetings be made public.

It also includes provisions – such as a clarification that the records of private, nonprofit volunteer fire companies are not to be treated the same as the records of a government agency – which would tend to restrict access.

Finally, SB 1469 includes a number of provisions designed to improve the process for people who are denied access to records. In two short years, the Office of Open Records (OOR) has docketed nearly 2,000 appeals, so that office has a lot of experience in this area. I worked with the OOR’s executive director, Terry Mutchler, on these provisions.

With the current legislation session coming to a rapid close, any amendments to the Right-to-Know Law will wait until next year. I plan to introduce a new bill – dropping some of the provisions in SB 1469, and possibly adding others – in January to continue this very important conversation. I anticipate a very public, methodical process to advancing that legislation, providing ample opportunity for every interested party to have their views heard and considered.

Sincerely,
Dominic Pileggi
Senate Majority Leader