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Bill > HB2524
PA HB2524
PA HB2524In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in access, further providing for open-records officer, for appeals officer, for regulations and policies, for uniform form, for requests and for retention of records and providing for inmate access; in procedure, further providing for written requests, for redaction, for production of certain records and for exceptions for public records; in agency response, further providing for extension of time and providing for relief from vexatio
summary
Introduced
04/20/2022
04/20/2022
In Committee
06/15/2022
06/15/2022
Crossed Over
06/14/2022
06/14/2022
Passed
Dead
11/30/2022
11/30/2022
Introduced Session
2021-2022 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), entitled "An act providing for access to public information, for a designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for the Office of Open Records; imposing penalties; providing for reporting by State-related institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet; and making related repeals," in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in access, further providing for open-records officer, for appeals officer, for regulations and policies, for uniform form, for requests and for retention of records and providing for inmate access; in procedure, further providing for written requests, for redaction, for production of certain records and for exceptions for public records; in agency response, further providing for extension of time and providing for relief from vexatious requesters; in appeal of agency determination, further providing for filing of appeal and for appeals officers; in judicial review, further providing for court costs and attorney fees, for civil penalty, for fee limitations and for Office of Open Records; and, in miscellaneous provisions, further providing for relation to other laws.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Right-to-Know Law by:
- Defining "commercial purpose" and expanding the definition of "local agency" to include certain volunteer organizations.
- Requiring agencies to register their open-records officers with the Office of Open Records and allowing the Office of Open Records to have jurisdiction over certain appeals involving criminal investigative records.
- Allowing agencies to require requesters to certify in writing whether a request is for a commercial purpose.
- Prohibiting inmates from being requesters, but requiring agencies to provide certain records to inmates.
- Extending the time for requesters to file appeals from 15 business days to 30 calendar days.
- Allowing local agencies to petition the Office of Open Records for relief from "vexatious requesters" who demonstrate an intent to annoy or harass the agency.
- Increasing the maximum civil penalty for agencies denying access to records in bad faith from $1,500 to $2,500.
The bill aims to clarify and expand various provisions of the Right-to-Know Law to improve transparency and accountability in the records request process.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Government Affairs
Sponsors (9)
Lou Schmitt (R)*,
Seth Grove (R),
Tim Hennessey (R),
Brett Miller (R),
Dan Moul (R),
Jim Rigby (R),
Frank Ryan (R),
Jesse Topper (R),
Dave Zimmerman (R),
Last Action
First consideration (on 09/20/2022)
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