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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Majority
Leader Bill DeWeese |
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House completes work on open government measure
Expected to be sent to governor this week
HARRISBURG, Feb. 11 – State government records are more open to the public than ever before, thanks to legislation passed today by the state House of Representatives and poised to be sent to Gov. Ed Rendell this week, according to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and Whip Keith McCall.
“The current law on open records dates back 50 years and it was high time for some changes," said DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington. "Through a deliberative process during the past year, members of the House have been committed to improving the law and we are reaching that conclusion today.
"This legislation offers Pennsylvanians sunshine, not a smoke screen. It allows the public to scrutinize the legislature, including reviewing information about official appointments and financial records,” DeWeese said.
DeWeese and McCall said the legislation makes four major changes to the state’s Right-to-Know Law:
- It is clear that the presumption of openness is flipped for government documents. The government would have to prove why a document should not be available to the public.
- For the first time, the Pennsylvania legislature will be included in the law.
- It specifies that financial accountability applies to all three branches of government. The public will know how their tax dollars are being spent.
- As amended, a state Office of Open Records will be created to assist residents seeking public records and create a uniform appeals process for people who are denied access to records.
“This has been a bipartisan effort as well as a joint endeavor with the Senate. Our action on open records shows what can be accomplished when we work together on issues of importance and I look forward to similar cooperation as we proceed this year on health care, energy independence and the state budget,” said McCall, D-Carbon.
The amended measure (Senate Bill 1) now heads back to the Senate, where a concurrence vote is expected Tuesday. The legislation then would head to the governor.
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