12/18/07-The House unanimously approved a bill to overhaul the state’s open records law and strengthen the ability of requesters to obtain government records.
SB1 now heads back to the Senate for approval of 19 changes made while in the House. However, final passage in the statehouse will have to wait until year. The Senate opted to hold off on considering the revised bill until after Jan. 1 when the second year of the two-year session convenes.
The House version would mandate all records are public beyond a list of exceptions. It also would expand the law to include records of the Legislature but prevent disclosure of birth dates and phone numbers in public records.
Another provision in the bill would create an office to act as a facilitator for the public in accessing state and local documents.
The Public Records Office would handle repeals of rejections of requests for records. Responses from executive and local agencies would be required within five business days – down from 10. Agencies also would be required to justify denials when a dispute goes to court, instead of forcing the person seeking the record to show why it should be public.
If the court rules in favor of the requester, the offending agency could face fines up to $1,000. Agencies also would be required to set up Web sites to post all state contracts, including contracts with the Legislature.
If the Senate approves the House version it would move to Gov. Ed Rendell’s desk. If not, a conference committee made up of select members from both chambers would meet to work out their differences.
For bill status, call (717) 787-6732.