Legislation limiting access to 911 information introduced
March 22, 2013 Right to Know Law
From the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association
House Bill 1041 was introduced by Representative Joe Hackett (R-Delaware) on March 20, 2013. The bill would prohibit the release of 911 “identifying information,” unless a court determines that disclosure is in the public interest. The term is defined to include name, telephone number, address and location.
HB 1041 was introduced last session by the same representative.
PNA opposed the bill last session and will maintain that position again this session. Addresses of incidents have long been public in police blotters and court records, as well as through the use of police scanners. More importantly, disclosure of cross streets allows concerned citizens to measure the adequacy and timing of response by 911 call centers and emergency services.
The bill’s introduction follows a recent successful Right to Know request by York Daily Record reporter Ted Czech.
In February 2011, the Commonwealth Court ruled that Czech was entitled, pursuant to his Right to Know request, to receive copies of time response logs from York County 911, with cross-street addresses included. It is relevant to note that a number of counties and municipalities provide crime mapping information online that would disclose this information.
HB 1041 is currently in the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Although the same bill passed the House in 2011, it died in the Senate.
PNA will continue its vigorous opposition to this bill and similar proposals related to Open Records legislation.
