Open state: A citizens' guide to Pennsylvania's new records law
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Looking to do something in 2009 that you couldn't do in Pennsylvania before?
Well, if you've had questions about the operation of a state or local government agency, Pennsylvania's new and improved Open Records law that went into effect Jan. 1 should make it easier to get some answers.
The biggest change under the law is that a record is presumed to be open to the public. If officials believe a document is not covered, it's up them to establish why it shouldn't be released. Under the old law, it worked the other way around and citizens had to prove they deserved access.
That change in attitude should trickle down to every public office, but some persistence might be necessary at first. It took Pennsylvania a long time to catch up with the rest of the country in terms of allowing access to records, so don't be surprised if some officials aren't entirely up to speed on the details.
Financial records of the Legislature are covered for the first time, as are any contracts and financial records for the state's community colleges.
Did you miss a meeting of your township supervisors? If they make audiotapes, those are considered open records, so you should be able to listen to a recording.
Did it seem as if it took the fire truck a long time to reach the scene of a calamity? Emergency 911 time response logs are public records, which should reflect the time of a call and the time the unit was dispatched, for example.
Which intersections are considered the most dangerous? The state Department of Transportation maintains a list, and that's a public record.
Curious about the background of city employees? Their applications and resumes should be public documents.
First Published January 5, 2009 12:00 am
