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March 30, 2007
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Sen. Pileggi Introduces Bill Strengthening Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) today introduced Senate Bill 1, legislation which would significantly strengthen Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.

"My legislation would make a number of important changes, including making the General Assembly's financial records subject to the Right-to-Know Law," Sen. Pileggi said. "This is part of our continuing push to make government at all levels more transparent and responsive."

Sen. Pileggi's Right-to-Know legislation would also:

• Add the Judicial branch's financial records to the law.
• Clarify that PHEAA is covered by the law.
• Add state-related universities (Temple, Pitt, Penn State and Lincoln) to the law.
• Add community colleges to the law.
• Create an Open Records Clearinghouse in DCED to provide information, training and advisory opinions on open records.
• Improve the appeals process.
• Shorten the response period for state agencies from 10 days to 5 days.
• Increase penalties for noncompliance from $300 to $1,000 for a first offense, and up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses.
• Require all agencies to appoint an open records officer to specifically deal with requests, including coordination and tracking.
• Require the Governor's office to create a uniform form which may be used to request records, making it easier for requestors.
• Require agencies to accept email requests.
• Establish standard fees for photocopying records.

Senate Bill 1 has been referred to the State Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin), for consideration.

Last week, Sen. Pileggi announced the State Salary Information Act, legislation to require the posting of all state employee salaries online. That bill has been introduced as Senate Bill 729. Other reforms enacted by the Senate recently include:

• Limiting Senate session times to between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Requiring amendments to be posted to the Internet before they may be offered on the Senate floor.
• Establishing a six-hour waiting period before the Senate votes on an amended bill or a conference committee report.
• Requiring all roll call votes from the Senate floor to be posted on the Internet within 24 hours, and Senate committee votes to be posted within 48 hours.
• Requiring posting the Senate's Legislative Journal – which includes the full text of all floor debates – on the Internet within 45 days.
• Requiring an updated fiscal note for a bill when an amendment to that bill has a fiscal impact.
• Eliminating private leases for Senate vehicles.
• Prohibiting members who live within 50 miles of the Capitol from claiming per diems.
• Implementing a co-pay on health insurance for senators and staff.

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