Open records bill heads to Pa. House, with limited time

    Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering changes to the open records law, but there’s limited time before the end of the legislative session, and the proposal is opposed by the newspaper association.

    The Senate voted unanimously last week for a set of revisions, six years after a major rewrite of the Right-to-Know Law was enacted.

    The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s concerns include the narrowing of what records must be produced by contractors when governments outsource operations.

    The media organization also warns it would become harder to find out who IS delinquent on sewer and water bills, and that agencies could take three months to decide whether to release records under certain circumstances.

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    Gov. Tom Corbett says the changes are a good start but wants to see the law fully apply to the Legislature.

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