Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires a state agency response to public records requests made during a gubernatorial disaster declaration.

Highlights:

• Defines “commonwealth agency” as any agency or commission of the executive branch under the policy, direction, or supervision of the Governor (Sec. 2801-G).

• Defines “office” as the Office of Open Records under the Right-to-Know Law (Sec. 2801-G).

• Defines “record” as information, regardless of the physical form or characteristics, that documents a transaction or activity of a commonwealth agency and is created, received, or retained in accordance with the laws of this state (Sec. 2801-G).

• Prohibits the governor from directing an agency to ignore requests for records or suspend the agencies’ process to answer a request for records during a disaster declaration (Sec. 2802-G).

• Prohibits a commonwealth agency from suspending the process by which an agency responds to a request for records during a disaster declaration (Sec. 2802-G).

• Authorizes the office to submit and publish guidelines that a commonwealth agency is required to respond to 5 days after the passage of this act (Sec. 2803-G).

• Authorizes a petition to be brought to court a commonwealth agency compelling compliance if the agency fails to respond to a request for records during a disaster declaration (Sec. 2804-G).

• Specifies that a commonwealth agency may only deny a request for records during a disaster declaration for reasons authorized under the Right-to-Know Law (Sec. 2804-G).

Full Bill Text