Ferlo Commends Progressive Amendments to Open Records Bill

HARRISBURG, October 23 – State Sen. Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) today commended Senator Pileggi and the members of the Senate State Government Committee for their efforts to improve the Open Records bill sponsored by the Majority Leader and referred to as Senate Bill 1.

“What started out as a fundamentally flawed Open Records law can now be best described as landmark reform in our Commonwealth expanding the people’s right to know what elected officials are legislating, regulating and spending,” Ferlo said.  “I am pleased to see that many of the provisions that I have been pushing for are being incorporated into Senate Bill 1.”

Senator Ferlo had introduced Senate Bill 765 that mandates stronger provisions for public records accessibility including the presumption that records are public.  Ferlo’s bill is also in the State Government Committee and has the broad support of citizen advocacy and open government groups, such as the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, among others.

Senate Bill 1 is being amended in the State Government Committee to substantially improve the bill. Perhaps most importantly, the changes will provide for a presumption that records are public and cover all three branches of state government. 

            “Certainly the amendments to Senate Bill 1 represent an improvement. Until we pass the best bill possible, I will remain vigilant to make sure that any debilitating amendments are defeated.”