The FOIA blog

PA Open Records--Comments on Pending Bill

As expected, there is a good deal of criticism of the pending Open Records bill in the state of Pennsylvania.  Basically, the critics (rightfully) say that the fixes to the Right to Know law just don't go far enough and even hamper access to government records.  More can be found here and here.

PA House Finalizes Open Records Bill

The Pennyslvania House put on finishing touches of a bill it hopes to vote on in mid-November.  Details can be found here. 

In the coming days, there will be comments and criticism concerning the House version of the bill, and I'll have them as they come.

PA Open Records Reform Fight Continues

The fight to reform Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law Continues.  Last week, a House panel actually weakend the proposed bill.  House legislators are going to work on the bill this week, and this Philadelphi Inquirer editorial hopes they kill the exemptions placed in the bill last week.

This is a classic case of legislation being like sausage.  In the end it may taste good, but watching it made isn't a pretty sight.

Around the States: Nevada and Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee has passed an overhaul of the state's open records law.  This story discusses the maneuvering done by the panel.  Last minute changes to the law, making such things as certain e-mail untouchable, makes the revised law not as much as an improvement as it could be and promises that the debate may take a bit longer.

On a brighter note, Nevada has enacted new open records legislation, which requires government agencies to respond to a written public records request within five days.  Previously legislation had no time limit for response.

PA Open Records Reform: Key Votes on Horizon

The marathon to change Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law to a more access oriented law is coming closer to an end.  Today, the House State Government Committee is scheduled to vote on an open records bill version and a full House vote could occur as early as next week according to this Times-Tribune report.

Washington State Committee to Meet to Look at Exemptions

The Committee convened by Washington Governor Gregoire (D) to look at exemptions to releasing information under the Washington Public Records Act meets this week.  Hopefully, the committee will recommend a number of items that should be released to the public that may now be released under the state's law.

Once again, the states are leading the way in experimenting with how to make government more transparent.

PA--Open Records Bill by Years End?

A group of democratic senators in Pennsylvania are attempting to push ahead changes in the State's Right to Know Law, and according to this article, hope to have a bill to the governor by the end of the year.

Readers of this blog know that this has been an issue in Pennsylvania for some time now.  In fact, during the 2006 election. Gov. Rendell promised reforms to the very restrictive Right to Know Law.  Legislators on both sides have agreed that the law needs to be changed.

What Pennsylvania illustrates is just how difficult it is to make major changes to to open records laws, even where there is biparisan support for the change, in theory.  In fact, as the federal FOIA law amendments, which are now somewhat stalled shows, it's even difficult to make what I consider to be minor changes in open records law.  But never fear, I'll continue to watch this process and keep you informed. 

Arizona Public Records Ombudsman

Another state has an ombudsman with authority to act in disputes concerning public records.  According to this article, Arizona has an ombudsman dealing with public records issues.  I believe the state experiments with ombudsman's are important as the Federal FOIA amendment's pending in Congress incoporate an ombudsman into the FOIA dispute process.

Editorial on Pennsylvania Open Records Reform

Here is an editorial on Pennsylvania Open Records Reform.  What I find so amazing is that the move to change the law is going at a snail's pace, even though it has been talked about for over a year.

PA Open Records Reform Update

Here is an editorial from Dominic Pileggi, the majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate on the need to reform the state's open records laws and the pending bills related to the initiative.