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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Roseann R. Cadau |
State Rep. Tim Mahoney |
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Mahoney unveils open records legislation at news conference
HARRISBURG, Feb. 21 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, held a news conference today to unveil legislation designed to give residents of Pennsylvania easier access to the records of elected local, county and state officials.
Mahoney said his legislation (H.B. 443) would provide greater access to records and create a new state agency to act as a facilitator for accessing those records. In addition, a new appeals method is being proposed that would establish a fairer process for residents who are denied access to public records.
“There has to be an uncomplicated process for citizens of Pennsylvania to examine officials’ public records,” Mahoney said. “The people want to change the way we do business in Harrisburg and I am a participant in the state’s reform process.”
Mahoney stated that the public already has a right to access most official government records, but that the procedure set up to provide that information is complicated and places too much of a burden on people seeking the records.
Mahoney’s bill would create a state agency, the Commonwealth Office of Access to Public Records, which would serve as a conduit to help people gain access to public records from local and state governments and agencies. The office would serve as a helpline to actually obtain the information and forward it to the person requesting the material.
In addition, Mahoney’s legislation would allow a person whose public records request has been denied by a local or state government to request a hearing.
“People don’t even know where to start when they want to access records because in many cases local and state governments have never advertised or made that process public,” Mahoney stated.
The Fayette County lawmaker’s proposal has garnered close to 50 co-sponsors, including members from both parties in the House of Representatives.
Those joining Mahoney at the news conference included state Reps. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, and John Galloway, D-Bucks.
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