The bill amends the Right-to-Know Law in Pennsylvania, enhancing the definitions and responsibilities related to public records. It expands the definition of "record" to include communications sent by public officials to less than a quorum of the governing body of an agency. Additionally, it mandates that agencies register their open-records officers with the Office of Open Records within 30 days of designation and requires these officers to complete a training course within the same timeframe. The bill also stipulates that open-records officers must attend annual training thereafter.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new requirements for the retention of records, specifying that agencies must retain records for at least two years and obtain confirmation from employees upon their separation from service that all records have been returned. It establishes a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for agencies or individuals who fail to retain records in accordance with the law, emphasizing that agencies cannot cover these penalties for their employees. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 964 (Jun 18, 2025): P.L.6, No.3