This past summer, the OOR conducted a survey of 917 Agency Open Records Officers (AOROS) across the Commonwealth and followed up with longer one-on-one interviews with 30 AOROs. The survey report is now available: OOR 2024 Survey Report The survey and interviews included questions about the following: The OOR’s two summer interns of 2024, Ethan … Continue reading Report on Survey of Open Records Officers
The denial of a request for reports relating to a 1981 death is upheld, citing the noncriminal investigation exemption. 2024-2522 A settlement agreement is not exempt from disclosure because it was presented to a quorum at a public meeting for purpose of deliberation. 2024-2238 Visit Hershey & Harrisburg is not an agency under the Right-to-Know … Continue reading Transparency Zone: September/October 2024
Exemption 708(b)(10) describes certain internal records that may be withheld in response to a Right-to-Know Law request. Deputy Chief Counsel Magdalene Zeppos-Brown provided the legal analysis. As of November 18, 2024, this exemption has been cited in 1,270 OOR appeals. Section 708(b)(10) exempts: A series of case law explains the categories of records to which … Continue reading Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(10), Internal Records
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
| Docket | Date | Title | County | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20243192 | 12/24/2024 | Amanda Fries and Spotlight PA v. Lower Alsace Township | Berks | Dismissed: Premature |
| 20243191 | 12/24/2024 | Mary Walker v. Erie City | Erie | Dismissed: Untimely |
| 20242775 | 12/24/2024 | Jeffrey Wertz v. South Strabane Township | Washington | Denied |
| 20243177 | 12/23/2024 | Ariel Shapell and ACLU of Pennsylvania v. Erie County | Erie | Dismissed: Insufficient (Sec. 1101) |
| 20243176 | 12/23/2024 | Ariel Shapell and ACLU of Pennsylvania v. Erie County | Erie | Dismissed: Insufficient (Sec. 1101) |
| 20243175 | 12/23/2024 | Ariel Shapell and ACLU of Pennsylvania v. Erie County | Erie | Dismissed: Insufficient (Sec. 1101) |
| 20243174 | 12/23/2024 | Ariel Shapell and ACLU of Pennsylvania v. Erie County | Erie | Dismissed: Insufficient (Sec. 1101) |
| Date | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| January 28, 2025, 6:30 PM | PA House Right-to-Know Workshop | |
| January 31, 2025, 12:00 PM | PSBA Lunch and Learn Training Session | |
| June 3, 2025, 9:30 AM | PSAB 2025 Annual Conference Session |
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