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PA SB869
Bill
Status
6/18/2025
Primary Sponsor
Jarrett Coleman
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AI Summary
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Expands the definition of "record" under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to explicitly include communications sent by public officials to less than a quorum of the governing body of an agency
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Requires agencies to register their open-records officer with the Office of Open Records within 30 days of designation, and mandates newly designated officers complete training within 30 days with annual training thereafter
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Mandates agencies retain all electronic records for at least two years from creation or receipt, including those on personal devices, with exceptions for spam, subscriptions, and non-agency-related communications
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Requires departing employees, officials, and agents to provide written or electronic confirmation that all agency records, including those on personal devices or accounts, have been turned over to the agency
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Establishes civil penalties of up to $1,500 plus attorney fees for willful or bad faith failure to retain records, with agencies prohibited from reimbursing individuals for such penalties
Legislative Description
In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in access, further providing for open-records officer and for retention of records; and, in judicial review, further providing for civil penalty.
Last Action
Referred to State Government
6/18/2025