Last week, the Commonwealth Court ordered California University of Pennsylvania to pay over $14,000 in legal fees to a newspaper for frivolous conduct and acting in bad faith for how it handled an open records request (California Uni of PA v. Bradshaw – 1491 C.D. 2018). The Court also allowed the maximum amount of statutory damages … Continue reading Fines issued for finding of bad faith in Cal U open records request
News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 31, 2021 Link to Report HARRISBURG (August 31, 2021) – The Office of Open Records (OOR) released a report finding that while most government agencies in Pennsylvania provide Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) information on their websites, improvements can still be made to increase citizens’ access to public records. “I am pleased that … Continue reading NEWS RELEASE: Office of Open Records Releases Report on Right-To-Know Law Information Posted on Government Agency Websites
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2021 Office of Open Records Applauds New Law on Meeting Agendas HARRISBURG – Yesterday, the Governor signed SB554, sponsored by Senator Pat Stefano, which amends the Sunshine Act, or “Open Meetings Law,” to require state government agencies, local municipalities, and school districts to post an agenda online no later … Continue reading NEWS RELEASE: Office of Open Records Applauds New Law on Meeting Agendas
Last week, I enjoyed presenting about the RTKL during the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs‘ conference. PSAB set up a great virtual format. I pre-recorded my presentation at a studio; that recording was played live for conference attendees while I answered questions in the chat that ran along the side of the video. An effective … Continue reading Presentation to PA State Association of Boroughs
The OOR is thrilled to announce that earlier this week, it took its first formal step in the regulation promulgation process. Regulations will provide greater clarity of the requirements of both the agencies and the requestors during the RTKL appeal process. The Office of the Budget received the proposed regulations and will commence their review; … Continue reading Regulations have left the building.
Holding government accountable via record access is not possible if the public is not well informed about how to request such information. The OOR is conducting a review of how agencies post Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) information on their websites. Specifically, the review will look at how an agency provides instructions to request information by reviewing a … Continue reading Review of RTKL Request Webpages
OOR is thrilled to share exciting changes. After 10 years with the office, Kyle Applegate is our new Chief Counsel. He replaces Charles Rees Brown, who retired after 10 years at OOR and more than 25 with the Commonwealth. Serving as Assistant Chiefs Counsel are Josh Young (seven years at OOR) and Magdalene Zeppos-Brown (six … Continue reading Kyle Applegate Is the OOR’s New Chief Counsel
The 2020 Annual Report is now posted. Some highlights: 2020 ranks as the second-busiest year ever for the OOR, with 2,764 appeals filed. Breakdown of who filed appeals in 2020: 43% citizens 37% companies 11% inmates 5% media 2% government officials 1% lawmakers 547 appeals involving state agencies; Department of Corrections tops the list at … Continue reading OOR’s 2020 Annual Report
On March 9, 2021, the OOR testified at a House State Government Committee hearing regarding how Right-to-Know requests were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Video of hearing OOR’s Written Testimony
On March 9 at 1:00, the OOR will be testifying at a House State Government Committee hearing regarding how RTKL requests were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The live stream should be available here: http://www.repgrove.com/LiveStreams
| Docket | Date | Title | County | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20212132 | 10/22/2021 | Alon Fain v. Cheltenham Township | Montgomery | Withdrawn |
| 20211943 | 10/22/2021 | Thomas Casey and Famous LLC v. Lawrence County | Lawrence | Consolidated |
| 20211942 | 10/22/2021 | Thomas Casey and Famous LLC v. Lawrence County | Lawrence | Dismissed: Premature |
| 20211916 | 10/22/2021 | Marissa Bluestine and Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice v. West Mahanoy Township Police Department | Schuylkill | Withdrawn |
| 20211901 | 10/22/2021 | Marissa Bluestine and Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice v. East Washington Borough Police Department | Washington | Withdrawn |
| 20211874 | 10/22/2021 | Paxton Stewart v. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Moot |
| 20211786 | 10/22/2021 | Ray Conlon and Conlon Tarker PC. v. Butler County | Butler | Withdrawn |
| Date | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2021, 10:00 AM | Laws That Protect Information Webinar | |
| November 3, 2021, 10:00 AM | Basics of the Right-to-Know Law Webinar | |
| November 4, 2021, 9:00 AM | PA Department of Environmental Protection, Northeastern Conservation District | |
| November 10, 2021, 10:00 AM | Basics of the Sunshine Act Webinar | |
| November 17, 2021, 10:00 AM | Right-to-Know Law for Law Enforcement Webinar | |
| November 19, 2021, 1:00 PM | PA Disabilities Council |
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