Pennsylvania HB 197: An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, in requirements and prohibitions, further providing for Commonwealth agencies.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 144 PRINTER'S NO. 1818
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 197
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, GIRAL, KHAN, SAMUELSON, HOWARD, HADDOCK,
DONAHUE, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, BRENNAN, SANCHEZ,
HARKINS, DEASY, CERRATO AND GREEN, JANUARY 16, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), entitled
"An act providing for access to public information, for a
designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency,
local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for
procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial
review and for the Office of Open Records; imposing
penalties; providing for reporting by State-related
institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract
information on the Internet; and making related repeals," in
requirements and prohibitions, further providing for
Commonwealth agencies.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 301(a) of the act of February 14, 2008
(P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, is amended and
the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 301. Commonwealth agencies.
(a) [Requirement] Public records requirement.--A
Commonwealth agency shall provide public records in accordance
with this act.
(a.1) Live telephone service requirement.--When receiving a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

telephone call DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS on a publicly
accessible telephone line, a Commonwealth agency:
(1) Shall allow the individual placing the telephone
call to speak with an employee of the Commonwealth agency who
is able to answer questions about, provide information on and
provide assistance with services and duties of the
Commonwealth agency.
(2) May not use a computer system or other automated
answering system that impedes the individual placing the
telephone call from speaking with an employee of the
Commonwealth agency . , OTHER THAN A CALL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
THAT QUEUES AND DIRECTS INCOMING TELEPHONE CALLS TO AN
AVAILABLE EMPLOYEE. A COMPUTER OR OTHER AUTOMATED ANSWERING
SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES AN OPTION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL PLACING
THE TELEPHONE CALL MAY SELECT TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE EMPLOYEE
OF THE COMMONWEALTH AGENCY SHALL CONSTITUTE COMPLIANCE WITH
THIS PARAGRAPH.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0197PN1818 - 2 -
<--
<--1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19