An essential guide for navigating the Right-to-Know Law
This unmatched reference walks you through Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and Sunshine Act. For a statute that touches upon almost every aspect of government in the Commonwealth and has generated a significant amount of litigation, little in the way of guidance has been offered to navigate the RTKL's substantive issues, procedural matters, and strict time limitations—until now. J. Chadwick Schnee, Esq., former Assistant Chief Counsel of the Office of Open Records, shares practical guidance about this important, yet often-overlooked statute. The book also discusses the open-meetings provisions of the Sunshine Act.
Get updated on the latest developments
This new edition provides updates concerning the case law and regulatory developments including:
- NEW FOR 2024: An entirely new chapter on open meeting requirements under the Sunshine Act and recent amendments
- New case law related to financial records
- The application of the RTKL to volunteer fire companies
- Public official social media as records
- Disruptive requesters
- Election records
- The Grand Jury Act
- The new OOR E-File Appeal Portal
- Remands of appeals
- Reconsideration of appeals before the OOR
- Civil contempt under the RTKL
- Enforcement actions
- And more!
Summary of Contents
- Overview of the Right-to-Know Law
- Filing a Request for Records
- Agency Response
- Fees
- Exemptions from Public Access
- Appeals Before the OOR
- Judicial Appeal
- Legislative and Regulatory Developments
- The Sunshine Act (Open Meetings)
- Appendix A: Sample Agency Right-to-Know Policy and Procedure
- Appendix B: Sample Uniform Right-to-Know Request Form
- Appendix C: Sample County Right-to-Know Request Agreement
- Appendix D: Sample Commonwealth Agency Right-to-Know Request Agreement
- Appendix E: Overview of the Right-to-Know Process
- Appendix F: Right-to-Know Checklists
- Appendix G: Right-to-Know Internet Resources
- Index of Cases
- Index of Statutes
- Subject Index