Pennsylvania Right to Know law – Page 3 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Requests from inmates overwhelm Pa. open records system

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From NewsWorks.org: Proposed revisions to Pennsylvania’s open records law appear to require more fine-tuning as lawmakers attempt to address a surging number of requests from prison inmates.

State prisoners are among the most frequent filers when it comes to seeking documents under the state’s open records law with the number of requests rising steadily since 2009. Proposed legislation calls for limiting the scope of those requests.

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Daily Local News files Right-to-Know appeal

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From Daily Local News: The Daily Local News filed an appeal with the state’s Office of Open Records on Friday regarding three Right-to-Know requests for public documents denied by the Coatesville Area School District.

Requests were made for numbers of all district-issued cell phones and the names of employees associated with those numbers; names, job titles, lengths of stay and salaries for three specific school district employees; and names, job titles, lengths of stay and salaries of all employees in the school district.

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Penn. state police take open-records dispute to court

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From TimesOnline.com: HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania State Police are going to court to fight a state lawmaker’s open-records request.

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-32, South Union Township, has been seeking the number of troopers assigned to the Uniontown station through the state’s right-to-know law since early June. The lawmaker is concerned the trooper level there is too low, and he wants to use the information to push for more police funding.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for September 27, 2013

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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.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for August 23, 2013

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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.

US seeks to shield emails about emergency network

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Pennsylvania lawmakers consider tweaking open government records law

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From NewsWorks: The 5-year-old Right-to-Know law could be in for some major tweaks.

Office of Open Records Director Terry Mutchler says she's concerned that the approach taken by the House could compromise Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know law in the spirit of improving it.

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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for June 28, 2013

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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.

Acting ND University System chancellor says NDSU president emails are not gone for good

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Trib wins appeal to open records in settlement with former county inmate

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From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The county must obtain and release the settlement between a nonprofit that provides medical services at the Allegheny County Jail and a former inmate because the county created, funds and shares offices with the organization, the state Office of Open Records ruled Monday in response to an appeal filed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

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Open Records chief flunks Pa. charter schools

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From abc27: HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The head of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records gives charter schools failing grades when the subject is compliance with the Right-To-Know Law.

“The number one violators are charter schools,” said Executive Director Terry Mutchler.

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Editorial: A sorry effort to censor Pa.’s open-records czar

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From Philly.com: Some Pennsylvania lawmakers are trying to prohibit the executive director of the state Office of Open Records from speaking publicly about active cases – essentially gagging an office designed to promote open government.

A bill being considered in Harrisburg would undermine crucial provisions of the state’s open-records law and have a chilling effect on transparency.

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