Representative Seth Grove

196^th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact:  Greg Gross

717.260.6374

ggross@pahousegop.com

RepGrove.com / Facebook.com/RepSethGrove

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2020

Senate Sends Grove Bill to Restore RTK Process and Transparency to Governor for Signature

HARRISBURG – Efforts to restore transparency in the Wolf administration advanced when the Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2463 to require state agencies to answer questions from the public, and particularly the media, during emergency declarations, Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover), the maker of the bill, announced. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.

“People always say they support transparency and accountability, but few support transparency and accountability on themselves. Gov. Tom Wolf has the opportunity, by signing House Bill 2463 into law, to show he fully commits the executive branch to a higher standard of openness,” Grove said.  “This is a legacy decision, which will, without a doubt, solidify him as truly the most open and transparent governor in the history of Pennsylvania. I strongly encourage him to sign the bill.”

Grove’s bill would require state agencies to respond to right-to-know (RTK) requests. According to the legislation, if an agency has been forced to close its physical location, it must follow procedures established by the nonpartisan Office of Open Records. These procedures must take into consideration the difficulties faced by Commonwealth agencies due to COVID-19 and any potential future emergency declarations to establish fair policies for responding to an RTK request. Further, it makes the data collected and used by the executive branch public under the law, so the residents have a full understanding of why the administration is making certain decisions under emergency declarations.

The governor’s office, as well as several state agencies, did not answer questions posed in RTK requests by the media and the general public as required by law during closures resulting from the governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Citizens have a constitutional right to question their elected officials and government, even in times of crisis,” Grove said. “This is a core principle of our nation and our Commonwealth. It must be defended and held in high regard.”

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GEG/jb