PaFOIC RSShttp://www.openrecordspa.org/index.htmlNews from the PaFOICeninfo@openrecordspa.orgCopyright 2009 Kim de B2008-11-06T17:41:39-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:27:23 -0500Closed budget briefing sparks Sunshine Act debateinfo@openrecordspa.orgSunshine ActOpen meetingsPhiladelphia2008-11-06T17:41:39-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/98117cb96ba3b0d04039815d27169949-78.html#unique-entry-id-78http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/98117cb96ba3b0d04039815d27169949-78.html#unique-entry-id-78Inquirer, Daily News sue to open Nutter-Council talksinfo@openrecordspa.orgSunshine ActOpen meetingsPhiladelphia2008-11-06T17:37:53-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/5ade62580a2220722ba11315f0fa84bc-77.html#unique-entry-id-77http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/5ade62580a2220722ba11315f0fa84bc-77.html#unique-entry-id-77Sunshine Law allows for exchange of viewsinfo@openrecordspa.orgSunshine ActOpen meetingsPhiladelphia2008-11-03T17:33:33-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/3cc51352670d49e04e16855e20052635-76.html#unique-entry-id-76http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/3cc51352670d49e04e16855e20052635-76.html#unique-entry-id-76Opinion: Sunshine Act is clearinfo@openrecordspa.orgSunshine ActOpen meetingsPhiladelphia2008-11-02T17:29:56-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/eb01c2dc82433ecc6091d96571aaf5ef-75.html#unique-entry-id-75http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/eb01c2dc82433ecc6091d96571aaf5ef-75.html#unique-entry-id-75]]>Board should err on the side of openness and transparencyinfo@openrecordspa.orgSunshine ActOpen meetingsGovernment transparency2008-09-16T17:19:33-04:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/fd4caba1c6afc879a040942948e91b96-74.html#unique-entry-id-74http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/fd4caba1c6afc879a040942948e91b96-74.html#unique-entry-id-74Agencies to charge for access to recordsinfo@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawOffice of Open RecordsTerry MutchlerFees2008-11-29T18:23:02-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/30b93bc5871dcd653613bd856a5889ea-62.html#unique-entry-id-62http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/30b93bc5871dcd653613bd856a5889ea-62.html#unique-entry-id-62New open records law puts contracts online but doesn't punish non-compliant agenciesinfo@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawOpen recordsState contracts2008-08-31T02:44:16-04:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/6faec84abd6fb8101433fc148baf4021-60.html#unique-entry-id-60http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/6faec84abd6fb8101433fc148baf4021-60.html#unique-entry-id-60By SEAN ADKINS
[York] Daily Record/Sunday News

A revamped Pennsylvania Right to Know Law does not call for a state agency to be penalized should it opt not to hand over contracts that would have otherwise been included in a new online public database.

State agencies are responsible for providing the information for the online database maintained by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.

However, the department would not take any action against a state agency that does not file a contract.

And the Right to Know Law doesn't allow for a fine or any action against the state agency for not submitting most contracts to the database.

But, the Right to Know Law does state that most contracts need to be filed with the treasury department within 10 days of a document's execution date to be posted online.

"It's almost like a self-policing type of thing," Elizabeth Kupchinsky, a treasury spokeswoman, said. "If an agency does fail to submit a contract, a member of the public can file a Right to Know request with that agency (to acquire a contract)."

A method of challenge should exist if an agency ignores the law and doesn't submit a contract to be posted online, said Melissa Melewsky, media law council with the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

"I certainly think we would have liked to have seen some teeth with this provision," she said. "But this is a law, and the law has to be followed."

New information online

On July 22, the treasury department unveiled the searchable online database that allows a public search through state contracts by entering criteria such as the name of the agency, grant amount or topic.

The database is not novel in that residents suddenly have access to never-before-released data, but rather now the public can view those contracts more quickly.

The money used to fund these state contracts comes from state taxes, fees and other charges, said Pennsylvania Treasurer Robin L. Weissmann.

"The whole point (for the Web site) is for people to know how their tax dollars are being spent," said Don Houser, chief of staff for Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre County.

Corman drafted a Senate bill in June 2007 that called for an online contracts database.

Before the creation of the online database, individuals needed to make a formal request with an agency to gain access to a specific contract, Houser said.

"It was a cumbersome process," he said.

Now, each agency is bound by the updated Right to Know Law to submit most contracts worth $5,000 or more to the treasury department, where legal documents executed on or after July 1 are posted to its Web site.

For example, the query "Northwest Triangle" turns up an Aug. 22 contract in which the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to give York's redevelopment authority a $1.05 million grant to remediate the downtown site.

The money will be used to clean up the Keystone Color Works building and the soil in York's Northwest Triangle.

About the updated law

On Feb. 14, Gov. Ed Rendell inked a revamped Right-to-Know Law that favors public access to records.

Under this law, state agencies must prove that a record is non-public or that an exemption forbids access.

While most of the provisions in the law take effect on Jan. 1, 2009, the online database went into action last month.

For the most part, the contracts are between state agencies and outside parties, Weissmann said.

Not every contract worth more than $5,000 will find its way to the site.

For example, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will create a separate Web site for its contracts, Kupchinsky said.

Also, contracts that contain information protected by certain legal principles such as attorney-client privilege are exempt.

Submissions after six weeks

So far, more than 4,600 contracts have been uploaded, Kupchinsky said.

As of Aug. 22, 67 state agencies had submitted contracts while 47 had not, she said.

Houser said to have nearly 60 percent of agencies submitting contracts only six weeks after the launch of the site is a good sign.

"My understanding is that all agencies are moving to comply," said Terry Mutchler, executive director of Pennsylvania's new Office of Open Records.

"It is incumbent for public bodies to comply with this (law)," Mutchler said.

Agencies that have not submitted contracts might have not done so because that bureau might not have executed a deal on or after July 1, Kupchinsky said.

Melewsky said she believes state agencies will submit their contracts to be posted to the treasury department's Web site.

"There is no way to know for sure if all the contracts are up there," she said. "I think there has to be some level of trust in the government. I hope it won't be an issue. I think the state agencies will follow suit. I don't predict a problem," Melewsky said.

Houser said it's in the best interest of the state for the agencies to comply.

"We are in a nature of open records here in Pennsylvania," Houser said. "If agencies are not going to comply with this, shame on them."

AT A GLANCE



  • The database: On July 22, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department launched a free online database of state contracts that allows site visitors to review the documents that had been previously available through formal requests.
  • The contracts: According to Pennsylvania's updated Right to Know Law, state agencies have 10 days to file their contracts with treasury department. The department then posts the information to its site. Contracts uploaded to the treasury department's site are worth more than $5,000 and have been executed on or after July 1. So far, state agencies have posted more than 4,600 contracts to the site.
  • What we found: The Right to Know Law doesn't include a provision to penalize an agency for not filing a contract with the treasury department to be posted online.
  • On the Web: To use the database, go to http://contracts.patreasury.org/search.aspx. Once at the site, you can search by agency, contracting party, date or the amount of the contract.
]]>New York expert raps new Pa. records law
info@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK Law2008-12-27T11:43:25-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/0a9adfceedbd718c03a3bbf55b3e05ad-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/0a9adfceedbd718c03a3bbf55b3e05ad-23.html#unique-entry-id-23PA Supreme Court bans paper's access to cell phone bills.info@openrecordspa.orgOpen recordsCell phone records2008-12-22T22:35:33-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/1ece9960c747468f392fad453a928504-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/1ece9960c747468f392fad453a928504-22.html#unique-entry-id-22II: Terry Mutchler: Right-to-know advocate and arbiter info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesTerry MutchlerOffice of Open Records2008-12-23T10:58:07-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/08aa9d95ae5a0e94b98294aaf0e77e4c-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/08aa9d95ae5a0e94b98294aaf0e77e4c-21.html#unique-entry-id-21APlogo_hSecond in a five-part series of Associated Press stories on Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law.
In high school, Terry Mutchler's tenacity could be measured in broken field-hockey sticks, including the time she broke her wooden stick in the heat of a game and had to use one belonging to her coach.]]>II: Q & A – What is the Pa. Office of Open Records? info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK LawOffice of Open Records2008-12-23T10:55:44-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/4e956835d679747d6f1ed6ad1cdbebcd-20.html#unique-entry-id-20http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/4e956835d679747d6f1ed6ad1cdbebcd-20.html#unique-entry-id-20Q: What is the Pennsylvania Office of Open  Records?]]>III: New Pa. law opens up government contractor records info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-24T10:52:56-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/00ea3577412fb931d36b9cde26075fc1-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/00ea3577412fb931d36b9cde26075fc1-19.html#unique-entry-id-19APlogo_hThird in a five-part series of Associated Press stories on Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Private businesses that do business with state and local governments in Pennsylvania are about to find themselves having to make some of their records available to the public.]]>IV: In Pa., neglected records may mean longer waits info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-25T10:48:50-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/a8bd5e421f1665105489411f2819faa1-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/a8bd5e421f1665105489411f2819faa1-18.html#unique-entry-id-18APlogo_hFourth in a five-part series of Associated Press stories on Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law.HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — In many government offices, records requests made under the state's new Right-to-Know Law may take longer than necessary to process because officials have not policed their files over the years and disposed of outdated records.]]>IV: Q & A — Can non-Pa. residents seek records under new law? info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-25T10:46:30-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/a8bd7e6982e2dc61b17b39956372e88d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/a8bd7e6982e2dc61b17b39956372e88d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17Q: Can I be denied a public record under Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law because I am not a Pennsylvania resident?]]>V: Pa.'s new law improves state's access reputation info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-26T10:41:39-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cae3149eb18fe7906a907d9db6856595-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cae3149eb18fe7906a907d9db6856595-16.html#unique-entry-id-16APlogo_hFinal installment in a five-part series of Associated Press stories on Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — It was a dubious distinction that may have done more than any other factor to produce a new Right-to-Know Law: Pennsylvania's long-standing reputation as one of the worst states when it comes to letting people know what their government is doing.]]>V: Q & A — Pa. law provides paper option for electronic files info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-26T10:37:22-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/7eaf5062672c47c288b617815cabbffa-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/7eaf5062672c47c288b617815cabbffa-15.html#unique-entry-id-15Q: What if the public record I want is in electronic form, but I don't have access to a computer?]]>III: Q & A — Will the Right-to-Know Law foster identity theft? info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-24T10:35:32-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/ffb24b73abae6f1b82778e08dbca06f3-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/ffb24b73abae6f1b82778e08dbca06f3-14.html#unique-entry-id-14Q: Will Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law make it easier for someone to steal my identity?]]>I: Q & A — What makes new Pa. open-records law different? info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-22T02:24:05-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/18030c93e55cebca169f16930a50e626-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/18030c93e55cebca169f16930a50e626-13.html#unique-entry-id-13Q: What is the major difference between Pennsylvania's old and new Right-to-Know laws?]]>I: Pa. Right-to-Know law contains 30 exceptions info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-22T02:05:20-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/0da03662a7d28d5448ba9edc76b4ddc2-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/0da03662a7d28d5448ba9edc76b4ddc2-12.html#unique-entry-id-12Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law contains exceptions for 30 categories of records. Most do not apply to financial records or aggregated data, such as spreadsheets and databases. A summary of the exceptions:]]>I: How to file a Right-to-Know request under Pa. law 
info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-22T02:01:47-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/bbd0674e9f305f3c01e97c68e9161690-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/bbd0674e9f305f3c01e97c68e9161690-11.html#unique-entry-id-11Common questions and answers about how to file a request under Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law.]]>I: What's public and what's not under new Pa. lawinfo@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-22T01:58:51-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/802e145a1af52774828eed792b2c11de-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/802e145a1af52774828eed792b2c11de-10.html#unique-entry-id-10Examples of information that the government must make available to the public under Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law, and examples of government information that will remain private:]]>THE WATCHDOG: New rules are open gift for Pa.info@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawPaFOICOffice of Open Records2008-12-21T10:33:18-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cb075dc0f54d5f2c2fabc5e9c5ff8b5d-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cb075dc0f54d5f2c2fabc5e9c5ff8b5d-8.html#unique-entry-id-8Citizens, researchers, reporters and just plain inquisitive folks will get a belated Christmas gift when a new law takes effect Jan. 1 opening more government information to public eyes. The state's revised Right-to-Know law forces more agencies, plus state lawmakers and judges, to release records. It brings Pennsylvania in line with many other states.]]>Pa. open-records chief shows independent spirit info@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawTerry MutchlerOffice of Open RecordsFees2008-12-06T00:27:00-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/c06ae8015ff5da5eda6456dc4505be09-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/c06ae8015ff5da5eda6456dc4505be09-7.html#unique-entry-id-7I: New Pa. open records law seen as key to public access info@openrecordspa.orgAP Open Records SeriesNew RTK Law2008-12-22T03:20:00-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/b38daf025fc230503be5668035c66046-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/b38daf025fc230503be5668035c66046-6.html#unique-entry-id-6APlogo_hFirst in a five-part series of Associated Press stories on Pennsylvania's new Right-to-Know Law.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Public-access advocates hope that widely shared frustration will subside after Jan. 1, when an overhaul of the state's Right-to-Know Law takes effect. The changes are expected to dramatically expand what people can find out about what goes on behind the scenes of the state and local governments. ]]>On Jan. 1, a new day opens with public access to recordsinfo@openrecordspa.orgOffice of Open RecordsNew RTK LawOpen records2008-11-26T18:26:18-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/6de38a44873205caa123b82e361e61e8-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/6de38a44873205caa123b82e361e61e8-5.html#unique-entry-id-5Those municipalities and school districts that habitually make it difficult for citizens to obtain information about their taxpayer-supported enterprises face a day of reckoning on Jan. 1. That's when a new Right-to-Know Law takes effect, with this fundamental change: All records will be considered public documents unless specifically exempted.]]>Pennsylvania sets fee for copying public recordsinfo@openrecordspa.orgOffice of Open RecordsOpen recordsNew RTK LawFees2008-11-26T18:21:41-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/52a9849ce71214d31df67c0ad902b96e-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/52a9849ce71214d31df67c0ad902b96e-4.html#unique-entry-id-4HARRISBURG — People seeking most government records will soon pay no more than 25 cents a page under a new state policy. The fee system, set by the newly created Office of Open Records, will apply to all state agencies and municipal governments when the state's Right to Know Law takes effect Jan. 1.]]>Pa. record copies limited to a quarter a pageinfo@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawOpen recordsOffice of Open RecordsFees2008-11-22T10:33:00-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/e117e76f6f2f802dfa246985f4fe8c2e-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/e117e76f6f2f802dfa246985f4fe8c2e-3.html#unique-entry-id-3HARRISBURG (AP) — Starting next year, citizens seeking copies of most public records in Pennsylvania won't be charged more than a quarter a page, under an order that the state's open-records chief plans to issue Monday.
]]>Hiring freeze won't affect Pa. open-records officeinfo@openrecordspa.orgOffice of Open RecordsState government2008-10-06T15:20:00-04:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cbb532e8f260c5578035267cba630315-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/cbb532e8f260c5578035267cba630315-2.html#unique-entry-id-2HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania's new open-records chief has Gov. Ed Rendell's permission to hire all the employees she needs, despite a statewide hiring freeze.]]>Open government, transparency are things we should all agree oninfo@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawOpen recordsRadnor Twp2008-11-11T14:59:00-05:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/5d7b7276ed595266731d009d09e1577d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/5d7b7276ed595266731d009d09e1577d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1Open government and transparency are the types of issues that people from all areas of the political spectrum can unite behind and support. Because when a governmental body like the Radnor Township School Board makes a decision, as many of my great elementary school teachers from Radnor stressed to me when I was a student, it is critical that they show their work.]]>Pennsylvania officials fret over beginning of open records lawinfo@openrecordspa.orgNew RTK LawOffice of Open Records2008-10-07T14:51:00-04:00http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/b7b3c701a45838de6d52e8130c89d019-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.openrecordspa.org/08news_files/b7b3c701a45838de6d52e8130c89d019-0.html#unique-entry-id-0As state officials prepare to oversee a new open records law, senators sought assurances Monday that the law will not burden local governments or lead to more identity theft.]]>