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OOR Updates the Standard RTKL Request Form and OOR’s RTKL Request Policy

4 October 2024

The Office of Open Records has two important updates to share: 1) We have updated the Standard Right-to-Know Law Request Form.  Among other changes, the form is now two pages and includes a required checkbox affirming that the provided name and contact information is accurate and that the requester is a legal resident of the … Continue reading OOR Updates the Standard RTKL Request Form and OOR’s RTKL Request Policy


Transparency Zone, August 2024

17 September 2024

In certain situations, an agency may withhold records documenting another agency’s investigation. 2024-1042 A township must provide copies of the checks requested, even if those checks are stored by a bank. Where an agency does not have physical possession of a record of the agency, but it is held by a third-party custodian, the agency … Continue reading Transparency Zone, August 2024


Transparency Zone, July 2024

23 August 2024

A $32,050 fee was invalid due to the cost estimation not being “more than a guess”. However, the agency was permitted to seek prepayment of fees based upon a good faith estimate. 2024-0956 Similar requests are not necessarily disruptive. An agency must provide evidence that a request is disruptive. 2024-1625 The Office of Open Records … Continue reading Transparency Zone, July 2024


Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(9), Certain Draft Records

6 August 2024

Exemption 708(b)(9) describes certain draft records that may be withheld in response to a Right-to-Know Law request. Appeals Officer Topé Quadri provided the legal analysis. As of August 6, 2024, this exemption has been cited in 166 OOR appeals.   Section 708(b)(9) exempts: The draft of a bill, resolution, regulation, statement of policy, management directive, ordinance … Continue reading Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(9), Certain Draft Records


Transparency Zone, May/June 2024

3 July 2024

2024-0939: The clearance procedures of a prison x-ray body scanner are exempt, but the testing/maintenance records of a prison x-ray machine are accessible under the RTKL. 2024-1033: A list of property addresses and corresponding terminology used by a city councilmember are not exempt under the RTKL as personal notes or working papers. 2024-0921: A county … Continue reading Transparency Zone, May/June 2024


Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(8), Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Agreements

25 June 2024

In this post, we discuss records related to labor relations and collective bargaining agreements, covered in section 708(b)(8).  Senior Appeals Officer Kelly Isenberg provided the legal analysis.  As of June 24, 2024, this exemption has been cited in 99 OOR appeals.   Section 708(b)(8) exempts: Common sense dictates that publicly releasing records related to agency labor … Continue reading Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(8), Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining Agreements


Attention Open Records Officers

18 June 2024

Good afternoon. Earlier today, we sent all agency open records officers registered with our office a link to a survey. Understanding the challenges facing agencies who are subject to the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) is an important goal of the Office of Open Records (OOR); this survey project is a critical way to gather that information. … Continue reading Attention Open Records Officers


Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(7), Agency Employee Records

7 June 2024

Next, we discuss records related to agency employees. Section 708(b)(7) protects certain records related to employees’ information. Chief Counsel Kyle Applegate provided the legal analysis for this exemption.  As of June 7, 2024, this exemption has been cited in 584 OOR appeals.   Section 708(b)(7) exempts “the following records relating to an agency employee: The specific … Continue reading Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(7), Agency Employee Records


FOIA Buddy

20 May 2024

The OOR has been contacted by numerous agencies who have received Right-to-Know Law requests from requesters using FOIA Buddy. Please read this for more information.


Transparency Zone, April 2024

13 May 2024

The Liquor Control Board demonstrated that granting access to bourbon whiskey delivery schedule records to different County liquor stores would threaten the security of an individual. This decision has been appealed to Commonwealth Court. 2024-0251 The applications of unsuccessful applicants for a position, including those applicants’ names, are exempt records. 2024-0539 The Copyright Act may prohibit … Continue reading Transparency Zone, April 2024


Docket Date Title County Status
20242811 11/06/2024 Imhotep Muhammad v. Pennsylvania State Police Commonwealth Dismissed: Untimely
20242492 11/06/2024 Salman Fayaz v. Dauphin County Dauphin Dismissed: Premature
20242310 11/06/2024 Michael Mattioni and Mattioni, Ltd. v. City of Philadelphia Law Department Philadelphia Denied
20242272 11/06/2024 Jackson Loepp and WJET/WFXP v. Warren County Warren Denied
20242241 11/06/2024 Pamela Nurse v. Cumberland County Cumberland Dismissed: Improvidently Docketed
20242070 11/06/2024 Glenn Murray v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Commonwealth Dismissed: Moot
20242799 11/05/2024 Andrew Mehdizadeh v. Pennsylvania State Police Commonwealth Withdrawn
Date Organization
November 12, 2024, 10:00 AM OOR Annual Training
November 13, 2024, 10:00 AM [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Payment Issues and the Right-to-Know Law Webinar
November 14, 2024, 1:45 PM 2024 National FOI Summit
November 27, 2024, 10:00 AM [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Sunshine Act Webinar
December 4, 2024, 10:00 AM [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Laws that Protect Information Webinar
December 11, 2024, 10:00 AM [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Right-to-Know Law Webinar