|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Tim Mahoney |
|
Governor signs Mahoney open records bill
HARRISBURG, Feb. 14 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, said Gov. Ed Rendell today signed a landmark open records bill into law that contains language Mahoney originally introduced. The Mahoney language was included in the new law, which gives Pennsylvania residents significantly more access to state and local government records.
In addition, Mahoney said the new law creates an Office of Open Records in the Department of Community and Economic Development to help people access public records and establishes a uniform appeals process for those who are denied access to records.
"Since taking office, I have spearheaded efforts to pass an open records law that will provide openness and transparency in state and local government," Mahoney said. "I have kept my promise to all citizens that they will no longer be ignored when they try to access public records."
Mahoney said the new open records law places a presumption in state law that the records of all branches of government at the state and local level, including the state legislature, are public unless specifically exempted in other state or federal law.
In June, the House Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform unanimously recommended 33 legislative reforms, including Mahoney's proposal that state and local records be presumed open to public review. Mahoney is the lone freshman Democrat on the reform commission.
The Fayette County lawmaker said he spent months working with citizens' groups while formulating open records legislation as part of the larger legislative reform effort being undertaken this session.
The new open records law will take effect in January 2009.
###rrc/2008/mjh l:\print\releases\signing.051
Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Mahoney is available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA51 (7-2-51) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.