| HARRISBURG, February 12, 2008 - - State Sen. J. Barry Stout (D-Washington/Greene) today praised the Senate passage of the state’s “Right-to-Know” law.
Under Senate Bill 1, most records will be presumed to be open, accessible, available, and reviewable.
“The measure helps make government more transparent, accountable and open,” Stout said. “This bill represents a solid bipartisan effort, and provides our state government with much-needed reform.”
Stout said that the bill will presume that most government records are public records; disclose available birth dates on court and public documents to help verify identity; make 9-1-1 recordings available when disclosure would serve the public interest; and would make correspondence between legislators and lobbyists public documents.
“I am extremely pleased that we are able to present this bill to Governor Rendell before the legislature recesses for the 2008-09 budget hearings,” Stout said. “It is the public’s right to know what goes on in our government, and this legislation is another step in the right direction.”
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