Attorneys for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press are currently fighting in court to help Pennsylvania journalists gain access to records that should be released under the state’s Right to Know Law. If they’re successful, reporters from local news organizations will be able to access records that reveal a forensic audit of a […]
Tag: Pennsylvania Office of Open Records
After 4 months York County (PA) won’t release public information; other counties did so in days
The York Dispatch is in a legal battle with York County for information that Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records has stated is clearly a public record. The newspaper first requested basic information about prothonotary office employees — including names, pay rates, job titles and dates of hire — in late July. The York Dispatch sought the information from York County officials and […]
PA governor allows government transparency legislation to become law
Despite opposing a bill he rebuked as “foolish” and “thoughtless,” Governor Tom Wolf let House Bill 2463 become law without his signature on Sunday. The bill passed unanimously in the state house and senate earlier this month. The bill would require state agencies to respond to RTK requests with procedures established by the Office of […]
Read More… from PA governor allows government transparency legislation to become law
Office of Open Records issues decision in redacted information in sewer-sale legal bills
The state Office of Open Records determined the Scranton Sewer Authority redacted too much information in legal bills regarding the Scranton sewer system sale and ordered the release of more specifics to The Times-Tribune. In a decision issued Wednesday, the OOR also upheld some of the authority’s redactions under an attorney-client exemption from public disclosure. […]
PA: Public wants police complaint records, videos
With the public demanding greater access to police documents and videos, two cases in the Lehigh Valley area could help shape legal precedent about what records must be released.
A Northampton County judge will decide whether the public is entitled to see complaints filed by citizens against a police officer. That case stems from a Bethlehem resident's request for complaint and disciplinary records about a Bethlehem officer.
[…]
Read More… from PA: Public wants police complaint records, videos
Pennsylvania: School bus videos are public records, state says
Five years ago, when a Bangor area man wanted copies of videos from his daughter's school bus so he could expose bullying, the state told him the recordings were off-limits to the public.
That might not be the case anymore. Continue…
—————————
[…]
Read More… from Pennsylvania: School bus videos are public records, state says
Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears appeal on firing of open records office head
Lawyers for Pennslyvania Gov. Tom Wolf this week tried to persuade the state Supreme Court that the governor was within his rights to undo the former governor's late-term appointment of a Republican legislative aide to head the state Office of Open Records.
[…]
Read More… from Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears appeal on firing of open records office head
Pennsylvania’s open records director sitting in limbo
The woman hired six years ago to oversee sweeping changes to Pennsylvania's open records law is waiting to see if she still has a job. More than three months since her six-year term expired as executive director of the Office of Open Records, Terry Mutchler doesn't know whether Gov. Tom Corbett will reappoint her to a second term.
[…]
Read More… from Pennsylvania’s open records director sitting in limbo
Editorial: East Earl Township (PA) supervisors need to step out from behind closed doors and embrace open government
When it comes to open and transparent government aimed at serving the people, East Earl Township supervisors must not have gotten the memo.
Supervisors Earl Kreider, Joe Shriver and David Zimmerman have been running the government based on the idea that the less the citizens know about what is going on, the better. They have been good, in fact far too good, at operating behind closed doors.
[…]
NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 8, 2013
From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
Brevard corruption case morphs into public records battle
[…]
Read More… from NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for November 8, 2013