OPEN RECORDS

Open Records Legislation
In 2002, Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law was amended to make important improvements regarding access to what the law defines as a public record. LWVPA supported the amendments, while acknowledging that they fell far short of needed reform because the very limited definition of what constitutes a public record was left unchanged and the law did not apply to the state legislature, Auditor General, Treasurer, and Attorney General.

In 2007 the League successfully lobbied for much stronger legislation (Act 3 of 2008). For the first time in Pennsylvania, the law presumes records held by state and
local agencies, all legislative records of the General Assembly and all financial records of the Pennsylvania court system are public unless specifically exempted under the law. Citizens can appeal denials of access to an Office of Open Records housed in the PA Department of Economic and Community Development, instead of having to go to court.

For more information visit the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records website.

Updated 2/2/09

Where We Stand

Government
-Constitutional Convention

- Election Laws
- Judiciary
- Redistricting
- Legislature
- Municipal Gov't
- Authorities
- Initiative and Referendum
- Campaign Finance
- Lobbyist Disclosure
- Open Records
- Open Meetings

Social Policy
- Education
- Gambling
- Death Penalty
- Reproductive Choice
- Transportation
- Child Health & Welfare & Juvenile Justice
- Family Issues and Laws
- Fiscal Policy
- Collective Bargaining

Natural Resources
- Land Use
- Water
- Air
- Energy
- Waste Management