PENNSYLVANIA’s
NEW OPEN RECORDS LAW
Download the new law
PDF document
bookmarked and searchable
Quick Guide to the New RTK Law

The new law provides for:
• Access to public information
• A designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency
• Procedure
• Appeal of agency determination
• Judicial review
• The Office of Open Records
• Imposing penalties
• Reporting by State-related institutions
• Requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet
• Making related repeals.


STATE CONTRACTS ONLINE

NEW: Search online to find out about state contracts for goods and services or grant awards worth more than $5,000. The online database includes contracts or purchase orders executed since July 1, 2008.


PROPOSED BILLS
RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY
OF GOVERNMENT IN PA.

HOUSE BILL 1591

Right-to-Know Law amendment:
Would exempt volunteer fire companies, ambulance services and rescue companies from the Right to Know Law. Sponsor: Rep. Matthew Baker, (R-68)
• Referred to State Government Committee 6/2/2009

SENATE BILL 851

Right-to-Know Law exemption:
Would amend the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act, providing for an exemption from the Right-to-Know Law. Sponsor: Sen. Dominic Pileggi, (R-9).
• Referred to Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee 6/9/2009

SENATE BILL 101

Sunshine Act amendment:
Would increase penalities for violating the Sunshine Act (open meetings law) Sponsor: Sen. Lloyd Smucker, (R-13)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee 2/6/2009
• First consideration (Senate) 4/28/2009
• Second consideration (Senate) 5/6/2009
• Passed in Senate 6/1/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee in House 6/3/2009

SENATE BILL 102

Contract procurement reform:
Would reform procurement of consulting contracts by creating open bid process and providing for transparency. Sponsor: Sen. Jane Orie, (R-40)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee 3/4/2009

SENATE BILL 104

State-owned vehicles accountability:
Would increase accountability related to the use of state-owned vehicles. Sponsor: Sen. Mike Folmer, (R-48)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee 2/6/2009

SENATE BILL 105

Taxpayer Transparency Act:
Would establish a searchable online budget database detailing information about taxpayer investments. Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Browne, (R-16)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to Finance Committee 2/6/2009
• First consideration in Senate 2/10/2009
• Re-referred to Appropriations Committee 2/11/2009
• Re-reported to Senate 4/20/2009
• Amended on second consideration 5/4/2009
• Second consideration 5/5/2009
• Amended on third consideration 5/6/2009
• Passed in Senate 6/1/2009
• Referred to House Finance Committee 6/3/2009

SENATE BILL 107

Salary Information Act:
Would require posting of all government employee salaries online. Sponsor: Sen. Dominic Pileggi, (R-9)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee 1/29/2009

SENATE BILL 109

Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act:
Would require disclosure notices for taxpayer-funded advertising. Sponsor: Sen. Mike Folmer, (R-48)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to State Government Committee 2/6/2009

SENATE BILL 110

State Plane Logs:
Would improve access to and expand information contained in state plane logs. Sponsor: Sen. Lloyd Smucker, (R-13)
• Reintroduced in Senate 1/21/2009
• Referred to Transportation Committee 2/6/2009
• First consideration (Senate) 4/28/2009
• Second consideration (Senate) 5/6/2009
• Passed in Senate 6/1/2009
• Referred to House Transportation Committee 6/3/2009


Visitors to our site

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition is a non-profit volunteer group working to help you understand and use the state's open records and open meetings law, and works with citizens around the state to increase government transparency.

Our services are free to everyone ... But we need YOUR CONTRIBUTION to enable us to meet expenses hosting this website and traveling across the state to provide informational sessions.

Your gift of just $25 is tremendously helpful to us, and it's tax-deductible for you.

If you are interested in open government, please join the PaFOIC today. You can join us online right now for less than the cost of one tank of gas.

Final Determination summaries posted


The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition has added a new page to its website with summaries of the FINAL DETERMINATIONS being issued by the Office of Open Records.

The Final Determinations are rulings on appeals made to the OOR after Right to Know Requests to state and local agencies are denied.

Each case is posted by the date the Office of Open Records issued the determination.

Each summary ends with a link to the PDF of the full Office of Open Records ruling.

The page shows the current month's determinations. Previous months may be accessed by links at the bottom of the right-hand column.

Summary Links in the right-hand column allow you to find cases by topic, exception, state agency, county or municipality. Clicking one of these links will bring up summaries for all the relevant determinations to date.

Note that some determinations are easy to summarize, and some are much more complex. We've tried to make the summaries as easy to read as possible, while still being complete. We urge you to read the full decisions for a complete understanding of the ruling.

Lorman Open Records seminar scheduled


The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition is taking part in an open records/open meetings seminar scheduled in Harrisburg by Lorman Education Services:
The all-day seminar is entitled "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings," and features experts in the state's new Right to Know law, including Terry Mutchler, executive director of the Office of Open Records.

PaFOIC to host public forums

The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition plans to host informational sessions on the new open records law across the state this year. Details will be posted as the sessions are scheduled.


Pennsylvanians have a new right to know.

Pennsylvania has a new open-records law which greatly expands public access to a wide array of government records.

The new law accomplishes three major things:
  • For the first time, establishes that all records kept by local and state government are presumed to be open to the public, with some exceptions. No longer is access restricted to just “accounts, vouchers or contracts” or “minutes, orders or decisions.”
  • For the first time, puts the burden of proving why a record should not be released on government agencies. No longer do citizens who are denied records have to prove why they should have them.
  • For the first time, there is an independent agency charged with arbitrating open records disputes. No longer do citizens have to go to court when they feel their request has been unjustly denied. The state’s new Office of Open Records, under the direction of executive director Terry Mutchler, will hear appeals and issue rulings when there are disputes.
And, although the new law went into effect Jan. 1, 2009, records from any year were newly available as of that date.

GET ANSWERS ABOUT THE NEW OPEN RECORDS LAW

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About the PaFOIC

OUR MISSION

The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition works to give all Pennsylvanians access to their federal, state and local governments, their records and their proceedings.

We believe that such access results in the most responsive, accountable and effective government, stimulating civic involvement and trust in government.

We seek to help all Pennsylvanians fully realize their rights and carry out their responsibilities as citizens in our democracy.

OUR WORK

  • Education: Through seminars and publications, we educate citizens, groups and government officials about the importance of open government to democracy and how they can use their rights to get public records.
  • Law reform: We monitor proposed state and federal laws, regulations and court decisions. We provide information to state officials and encourage discussion of open government improvements in Pennsylvania. To the extent allowed by our nonprofit status, we support reforms affecting public records.
  • Legal support: We provide resource material to citizens or groups who encounter difficulty in obtaining public records. In open government cases of state-wide importance, we help citizens obtain vigorous legal representation.
WHO WE ARE
The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition was founded in 2005. Consider this website our “virtual” office. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization in its formative years, we are run by volunteers, and do not yet have paid staff or office of phone number.

The best way to get in touch with us is through this website, using our free online Pennsylvania Open Government Forum. You'll also find our mailing address on the bottom of every page, along with a link to our Contact Us page.

WE'RE ALL ABOUT DISCLOSURE
The coalition is an open book: The names of our officers and board members, as well as our articles of incorporation, minutes of our meetings and financial statements are posted on our Who We Are page. Information about us may also be accessed at GuideStar, the leading source of information on U.S. nonprofits.

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