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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Babette Josephs |
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Josephs Sunshine Law bill moves out of committee
HARRISBURG, May 11 – The House State Government Committee has approved a bill introduced by Rep. Babette Josephs that would strengthen the state's Sunshine Law.
The bill would increase penalties for violations and prohibit agencies from paying the fines on behalf of an individual member who violates the law.
"This is one way we, as state legislators, can help keep government accessible, open and accountable to the public," said Josephs, chairwoman of the committee.
"The increased penalties would put more teeth into the law and discourage its violation," she said.
Josephs' bill (H.B. 1324) would increase the penalty for intentional violations from $100 to $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution for a first offense. A second or subsequent offense would incur a fine of up to $2,000 plus the cost of prosecution under the bill. Since agencies would be prohibited from paying the fine on behalf of or reimbursing a member of their agency, the violators would be held financially responsible rather than the taxpayers, Josephs noted.
The Sunshine Law was created to ensure citizens have notice of and the right to attend all meetings of agencies where policy is formed and decisions are made.
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
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