Transparency Zone, November 2022

2 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

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Phase 2 of OOR E-File Appeal Portal Process

1 December 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

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ICYMI: 2022 Annual Training

15 November 2022

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

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Transparency Zone, October 2022

9 November 2022

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

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Annual Training is November 15

8 November 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

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OOR Reviewing RTKL Fee Schedule, Seeking Comments

7 November 2022

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

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Transparency Zone: September 2022

18 October 2022

No reasonable expectation of privacy exists for names and addresses listed on construction permits, thus that information may not be redacted. 2022-1719 A requester may not be prohibited from taking photographs when inspecting electronic copies of various financial records. 2022-1626 Autopsy and toxicology reports held by a county coroner are not protected from disclosure by … Continue reading Transparency Zone: September 2022

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2022 AORO Survey Data

19 September 2022

Over the summer, we conducted a survey of Agency Open Records Officers (AOROs) to get a sense of the volume and complexity of the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) requests they’ve received in 2021 and 2020. We received responses from 983 AOROs across the state. As in recent years, roughly a third of agencies report receiving more … Continue reading 2022 AORO Survey Data

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Transparency Zone: August 2022

12 September 2022

Many records related to a Hepatitis A outbreak at a restaurant are protected under the Disease Prevention and Control Law. 2022-1414 If records are presented to a quorum of a board, an agency may not withhold the records by claiming they reflect internal, predecisional deliberations.  2022-0923 A request for county records related to the 2020 … Continue reading Transparency Zone: August 2022

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OOR Issues Advisory Opinion on Limiting RTKL Requests

19 August 2022

At the request of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, the Office of Open Records today issued an advisory opinion regarding an agency creating a policy limiting the number of Right-to-Know Law requests made. The advisory opinion can be found here.

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