openrecords.pa.govPA Office of Open Records

Ask a Question RSS Follow on Twitter Print Page OOR Office of Open Records Right-to-Know Law About the RTKL & FAQ Right-to-Know Law Statute Legislative History RTKL Flowchart RTKL Case Law Index How to File a Request Find Agency Open Records Officers Citizens’ Guide Agency Guides Fee Schedule Advisory Opinions RTKL Forms Regulations Under Development Records Retention Requesting Police Recordings Judicial Agencies Appeals Appeal E-File Portal How to File an Appeal File an Appeal Mediation Program Procedural Guidelines In Camera Review Process OOR Decisions (Docket Search) Options After OOR Decision Request Direct Interest Participant Status File an Entry of Appearance Final Determinations Issued by District Attorneys Sunshine Act Training About Training Request Training Calendar OOR PowerPoint Presentations OOR Training Videos OOR Annual Trainings OOR Sunshine Week OOR Webinars About About the OOR Contact OOR Request OOR Records Our Team Careers Transparency Reports and Surveys Official OOR Blog OOR Updates Find Agency Open Records Officer Look up a specific AORO, or register a new one. OOR Decisions (Docket Search) Search for decisions on Right-to-Know Law appeals. About the Right-to-Know Law and FAQ Learn more about Pennsylvania’s open records law. Sunshine Act Learn more about Pennsylvania’s open meetings law. OOR Decisions (Docket Search) Search for decisions on Right-to-Know Law appeals. More Info About the Right-to-Know Law and FAQ Learn more about Pennsylvania’s open records law. More Info Sunshine Act Learn more about Pennsylvania’s open meetings law. More InfoClick here for commonly requested records, including birth and death certificates, and where to find them. The OOR has recently updated its Right-to-Know Law FAQs. The OOR is hosting a "Basics of the Right-to-Know Law" Webinar on May 22nd at 10 a.m. Appeal E-File Portal Login to the appeal portal to view recent and ongoing appeals to which you are a party. Follow Us Follow us on Twitter to keep up to date on important things. Email Subscriptions Subscribe to our newsletter or daily Final Determination updates. Blog RSS Feed Recent Final Determinations Upcoming Training Latest Tweets 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 Transparency Zone, March 2024 5 April 2024 A requester is entitled to a refund of duplication fees paid for records produced by the agency that are not responsive to the request. 2023-2227 The identity of the requester and motivation for the request are irrelevant in determining whether records are exempt from disclosure. 2024-0266 The RTKL’s exemption for trade secrets or confidential, proprietary … Continue reading Transparency Zone, March 2024 Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(6), Personal Identification Information 3 April 2024 Even the most dedicated transparency advocates will draw a line when it comes to the disclosure of certain personal information in records. Section 708(b)(6) of Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL”) allows government agencies to withhold personal identification information from public access. In this edition of Exemptions, Explained,” with legal analysis provided by Appeals Officer Angela Edris, … Continue reading Exemptions, Explained: 708 (b)(6), Personal Identification Information The Demand for Election Records 12 March 2024 The 2020 presidential election will go down in history as one of Pennsylvania’s most memorable. The impact on Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) requests was swift, prolonged, and intense. Requesters sought records related to mail-in ballots, voting machines, and security policies. More than three years later, election related RTKL appeals still remain above pre-November 2020 levels. With … Continue reading The Demand for Election Records 2023 Annual Report 11 March 2024 The Office of Open Records is proud to present its 2023 Annual Report. Read it here. Highlights from this year’s annual report include: Share this: Transparency Zone, February 2024 4 March 2024 An agency may enforce a policy that requires use of the standard statewide RTK form” for all requests. 2024-0292 An agency may respond to a request by directing a requester to a publicly accessible website that contains all of the data points. 2024-0196 Bridge inspection reports are exempt from access under the Vehicle Code. 2024-0329 … Continue reading Transparency Zone, February 2024 Sunshine Week Summit 2024 (In-Person and Virtual) 1 March 2024 In celebration of Sunshine Week 2024, the Office of Open Records is joining other stakeholders on March 13 from 9-12 for a great discussion: You may join us virtually or in person in Harrisburg at the beautiful new State Archives Building. There is an opportunity for 2.5 CLE credits for attorneys. For registration and more … Continue reading Sunshine Week Summit 2024 (In-Person and Virtual) Transparency Zone, January 2024 1 February 2024 An inmate was granted access to email communications between prison officials about movies and tv series. 2024-0023 The names of individuals who played golf at a course operated by a township are not public records. 2023-3106 An agency may charge copying fees if it only keeps physical copies of a requested record. 2023-3129 Vehicle crash … Continue reading Transparency Zone, January 2024 Transparency Zone, November/December 2023 8 January 2024 An agency may redact bank account and routing numbers on financial records to prevent unauthorized access. 2023-2422 The Department of Corrections proved that it did not have records related to the price it paid for a certain shampoo. 2023-2231 A request for the last time [a] robotic stopwatch was calibrated” and the corresponding costs provided … Continue reading Transparency Zone, November/December 2023 Transparency Zone, October 2023 15 November 2023 A fire inspector’s report is found to be related to a noncriminal investigation and can be withheld. 2023-1964 The Department proved that the Request asked questions rather than seeking records, thus properly denying the request. 2023-2460 While fees cannot be assessed for the provision of electronic records, agencies are not required to convert records that … Continue reading Transparency Zone, October 2023 Docket Date Title County Status 20241222 05/13/2024 Mark Muroski v. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Commonwealth Dismissed: Premature 20241206 05/13/2024 Charles Talbert v. Pennsylvania Bar Association Dauphin Dismissed: Lack of Jurisdiction 20241016 05/13/2024 Allen Wilkins v. Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office Dauphin Granted 20241000 05/13/2024 Alfonso Pew v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Commonwealth Dismissed: Moot 20240950 05/13/2024 Melissa Keller v. Greencastle Police Department Franklin Granted 20240737 05/13/2024 Deborah Evangelou v. Council Rock School District Bucks Denied 20240699 05/13/2024 Daniel Masiulis and AVIAT US INC v. Allegheny County Allegheny Dismissed: Untimely Date Organization Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar Apple iCalendar May 15, 2024, 11:00 AM Delaware County Municipal Managers COG Training Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar Apple iCalendar May 16, 2024, 9:00 AM Franklin County RTKL Training Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar Apple iCalendar May 20, 2024, 1:00 PM Pennsylvania Public Procurement Association RTK Training Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar Apple iCalendar May 22, 2024, 10:00 AM [OPEN TO PUBLIC] Basics of the Right-to-Know Law Webinar Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar Apple iCalendar May 23, 2024, 1:00 PM Franklin County RTKL Training Microsoft Outlook Google Calendar...