Revised Pennsylvania Open Records Bill Clears Senate Committee

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A bill to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Open Records law, amended to meet some objections of open government advocates, was approved by committee and sent to the Senate floor. The bill states that all records of state executive branch agencies and local governments are presumed open unless specifically exempted by state law. Sen. Dominic Pileggi, the bill’s sponsor, said this would put “the burden of proof on government agencies who want to deny access to a record,” but some open government advocates said it doesn’t go far enough. (10/30/07)