When filing an appeal, the requestor must include the agency’s response to the original Right-to-Know request. 2023-0252 An agency meets its burden of providing access to public records when it provides a weblink to the responsive records. 2023-0262 Employment applications for an individual who is not hired by an agency are exempt from public access, … Continue reading Transparency Zone, February 2023
Some records related to an investigation of alleged elder abuse are exempt under the Older Adult Protective Service Act. 2022-2868 The Office of Open Records does not have jurisdiction over appeals of unemployment compensation benefits decisions. 2023-0108 Some libraries are considered a local government agency (2022-2541) while others are not (2022-2853). A police department failed … Continue reading Transparency Zone, January 2023
Section 1307 of the Right-To-Know Law requires the Office of Open Records to establish a fee schedule for Commonwealth agencies and local agencies. Section 1310 of the RTKL requires the OOR to review that fee schedule every other year. Duplication fees charged under the RTKL must be reasonable and based on “prevailing fees for comparable duplication services provided by … Continue reading OOR Adopts RTKL Fee Schedule
A government agency must prove that redactions in legal invoices consist of an attorney’s conclusions, legal theories, legal research or opinions. 2022-2709 Proposals related to a canceled bidding process are public records even if those proposals were never formally rejected. 2022-2521 An agency is only required to provide records in the manner in which the … Continue reading Transparency Zone, December 2022
A list of 9th graders enrolled at Central High broken down by middle school attended is protected by FERPA. 2022-2258 Granted request for data on collisions in the Delaware River as agency failed to prove records are internal/predecisional deliberations, noncriminal investigative records, or subject to a federal confidentiality statute. 2022-1985 A county consortium for school … Continue reading Transparency Zone, November 2022
During the summer, we shared the exciting news that the OOR is moving forward with our E-File Appeal Portal, with the goal of having all Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) appeals processed through the E-File Portal by spring of 2023. Use of the E-File Portal will provide a one-stop location for all records involving all appeals, ending … Continue reading Phase 2 of OOR E-File Appeal Portal Process
Thanks to the nearly 300 people who logged on to watch the training live. Lots of great questions. Watch for the first time (or again) by clicking the links below. Video PowerPoint
Aggregate data about disability services provided to students may be public information. 2022-1989 Agency proved that it has not promulgated regulations defining “chicken meal” and thus a document responsive to the Request does not exist. 2022-2254 An agency may not be allowed to withhold a surveillance video if sensitive images may be blurred (“redacted”). 2022-1908 … Continue reading Transparency Zone, October 2022
The Office of Open Records (OOR) will conduct its annual Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) and Sunshine Act training on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m. This year’s session, which will be held via Microsoft Teams, will include the following topics: The OOR’s Annual Training is free and open to everyone. Attendees will have ample opportunity to … Continue reading Annual Training is November 15
Section 1307 of the Right-To-Know Law requires the Office of Open Records to establish a RTKL Fee Schedule for Commonwealth agencies and local agencies. Section 1310 of the RTKL requires the OOR to review that fee schedule every other year. The OOR last updated the fee schedule in 2020. Today, our biannual review of the RTKL Fee Schedule officially begins for 2022. We … Continue reading OOR Reviewing RTKL Fee Schedule, Seeking Comments
| Docket | Date | Title | County | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20230688 | 03/30/2023 | Kevin Foster v. Pennridge School District | Bucks | Dismissed: Premature |
| 20230677 | 03/30/2023 | Robert Fennell v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 20230676 | 03/30/2023 | Robert Fennell v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 20230674 | 03/30/2023 | Robert Fennell v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 20230673 | 03/30/2023 | Shariff Butler v. Philadelphia Office of Judicial Records | Philadelphia | Dismissed: Lack of Jurisdiction |
| 20230667 | 03/30/2023 | Denise Campbell v. Tredyffrin Township Police Department | Chester | Withdrawn |
| 20230666 | 03/30/2023 | Thomas Gokey v. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) | Commonwealth | Dismissed: Premature |
| Date | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2023, 10:00 AM | [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Right to Know Law Webinar | |
| April 19, 2023, 10:00 AM | [OPEN TO PUBLIC] The Right-to-Know Law for Law Enforcement Webinar | |
| April 20, 2023, 1:30 PM | Training for Bucks County School Superintendents | |
| May 3, 2023, 10:00 AM | [ OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Sunshine Act Webinar | |
| May 17, 2023, 10:00 AM | [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Payment Issues and the Right-to-Know Law Webinar | |
| May 31, 2023, 10:00 AM | [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Right to Know Law Webinar |
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