Sunshine Week
What are the Sunshine Act and Right to Know Law?
The Sunshine Act and Right to Know Law are Pennsylvania’s primary public access laws. These laws guarantee the public’s right to access government information at public meetings and through public records. Public access to meetings and records is fundamental to the public’s ability to understand government actions and hold government officials accountable.
The Sunshine Act applies to public agencies, which include Pennsylvania executive branch agencies, the General Assembly, and municipal authorities, such as township boards of supervisors and local school boards. The Act requires agencies to hold public meetings any time a quorum deliberates agency business or takes official action. As with many laws, there are exceptions to the public meeting requirements of the Sunshine Act, but the law begins with a statement of intent, stressing the right of the public to witness the decision-making process to ensure that the democratic process functions properly.
The Right to Know Law applies to executive branch agencies and local agencies, including school districts, townships, other municipalities, and authorities. The law also applies on a limited basis to the General Assembly and to the court system’s financial records. The law begins with the presumption that records in the possession of government agencies are public records and must be provided within the framework of the law. There are exemptions to the law that allow agencies to deny public access, but the law places the burden of proof on an agency to show why a requested record is not public.
March 15 - 21, 2020
Senator John DiSanto (R-Dauphin), Chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, will be introducing a Senate resolution, while Representative Rob Matzie (D-Beaver, Allegheny) has introduced a House Resolution 697 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
2020 Sunshine Week Promotional Advertising Campaign
Each year in March, news media organizations across the country celebrate Sunshine Week. We take this time to highlight the importance of transparency in our government, and we underscore the vital work our journalists do to fight for access to records that shed light on government activity.
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association has designed print and digital ads for Sunshine Week. To access these ads, along with the corresponding editorial from PNA President Brad Simpson, please visit the link below. We are asking publications to run these ads and the editorial during Sunshine Week – March 15-21.
You can rest assured knowing that before, during and after Sunshine Week, PNA continues to advocate, on your behalf, for more access to essential information from all levels of government. We remain focused on three key transparency issues – for public agencies to record executive sessions, for requiring agencies to provide agendas in advance of meetings so the public can attend and participate in issues that matter to them and for keeping public notices in newspapers.
If you have questions about this campaign, please email the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s marketing team at Marketing@PANewsMedia.org.
2019-20 Legislative Session
Representative Aaron Bernstine has introduced House Bill 1069, which requires government agencies to make meeting agendas available to the public prior to all public meetings. This bill moved out of the House of Representatives unanimously and awaits action in the Senate.
Read the press release and PNA support letter.
PNA supports this legislation and encourages you to reach out to your local legislator asking them for their support.
2017-18 Legislative Session
PNA sent letters to members of the House State Government Committee pushing movement on House Bills 37 and 1531 amending the Sunshine Act. House Bill 37 requires agencies to obtain legal advice before calling an executive session, to make a verbatim recording of executive sessions and other provisions that promote compliance with the law. House Bill 1531 requires agencies to provide detailed meeting agendas to the public prior to all public meetings and preclude agencies from taking official action on matters that do not appear on the meeting agenda.
Sunshine Act Compliance Concerns
LNP (Lancaster)
Columbia residents concerned borough officials violating Pennsylvania’s open meeting law
Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh)
Editorial: Highlands needs to let the Sunshine Act in
Observer-Reporter (Washington)
EDITORIAL: Claim about Charleroi council is concerning
Herald-Standard (Uniontown)
Group texts can violate the Sunshine Act
Herald-Standard (Uniontown)
Charleroi councilman alleges members violated Sunshine Act
The Times-Tribune (Scranton)
Scranton School Board may have Violated State Law with Layoff Vote
Meadville Tribune
Judge Recuses Self from Penncrest Sunshine Act Violation Hearing
Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh)
Pittsburgh City Council Secretly Hires New City Clerk
Bucks County Courier Times
Ain’t no Sunshine in many Bucks/Montgomery towns’ executive sessions
LNP / LancasterOnline
Manheim Township school board admits to violating Sunshine Act
The Bradford Era
Tanner tenders resignation from Keating Twp. Supervisors
Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre)
County council approves union contract amidst transparency complaints
Williamsport Sun-Gazette
Municipal Water and Sanitary Authorities fail to advertise as deliberations take place
Clearfield Progress
Beaver County Times
Possible Sunshine Law violations by county commissioners exposed in firing of solicitor
York Dispatch
West York school board violated Sunshine Act over appointment, member says
LNP / LancasterOnline
Columbia Borough Council again accused of violating Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act
Herald-Standard (Uniontown)
Group texts can violate the Sunshine Act
Erie Times-News
Did private meeting on Erie community college violate Sunshine law?
York Dispatch
Secret York County election meeting faces legal questions
Delaware County Daily Times
Chester Water Authority sues to stop city-Aqua deal
The Philadelphia Tribune
Observer-Reporter (Washington)
Cecil supervisor takes colleagues to court over law firm firing
Beaver County Times
Possible Sunshine Law violations by county commissioners exposed in firing of solicitor
Erie Times-News
Erie County Tech School chief got secret suspension
Pennlive / The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)
Harrisburg schools leader makes it clear she has no time for charter schools
Clearfield Progress
Sunshine Law violations continue in Curwensville
The Almanac (Washington)
Bethel Park School Board passes unexpected tax cut
Erie Times-News
Repeat concerns fill case against Erie Rise’s charter
The Morning Call (Allentown)
Charter school’s budget vote, unadvertised meetings raise Sunshine Act questions
Erie Times-News
Erie Rise, school district clash over charter’s future
The Daily Item (Sunbury)
Best suit: Northumberland County majority commissioners violated open records law
York Dispatch
YCIDA looks to have violated state Sunshine Act, again
Associated Press
House votes to make agencies post agendas before meetings
York Dispatch
Pa. schools, municipal boards don’t have to tell you what they’re talking about — and some don’t
Herald-Standard (Uniontown)
Third suit filed against Shorraw, Monessen over alleged Sunshine Act violations
Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre)
Local rail authority sued for Sunshine Law violation
LNP / LancasterOnline
Council made Columbia Borough manager changes last week in unannounced executive session
New Castle News
Citizen again requests meeting minutes
Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre)
Some municipalities fail to advertise meetings
Observer-Reporter (Washington)
Attorney asks for quick hearing in Sunshine Act suit filed against Monessen