By: Amanda J. Sundquist
January 2010 marks the first anniversary of the implementation of the new Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The past year has been a year of firsts for local agencies, requesters, and the Office of Open Records as the law has been implemented and interpreted. Sixty-five determinations by the Office of Open Records have been appealed to common pleas courts throughout the state, with a number of such decisions awaiting decision by the Commonwealth Court. The Commonwealth Court’s Order granting the preliminary injunction to stop the disclosure of public school employees’ home addresses and subsequent advisory by the Office of Open Records stopping the disclosure of all public employees’ home addresses continues to be one of the most significant developments under the Right-to-Know Law in 2009.
As your municipality begins the new year, please contact Amanda Sundquist to update or create municipality specific forms, for assistance with challenging requests, or to receive guidance as the courts of common pleas and the Commonwealth Court continues to issue decisions.
