Timothy S. Wachter Testifies Before the House State Government Committee On Behalf of PSBA

Timothy S. Wachter will testify on behalf of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) before the House State Government Committee on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The hearing will address State Bill 411, amending the Right-to-Know (RTK) Law, which became effective in 2009. PSBA’s Senior Deputy General Counsel, Emily J. Leader, will also testify.

The House State Government Committee, chaired by Representative Daryl Metcalfe, is holding the hearing to gather testimony and input pertaining to the current Right-to-Know Law and issues that could be addressed by an amendment to the Right-to-Know Law.

The current Right-to-Know Law created the legal presumption that all government or public records are subject to disclosure, and then created certain exceptions to that presumption. Under the Right-to-Know Law, government agencies are required to prove that an exception to disclosure applies if the agency is going to deny access to a public record. The Right-to-Know Law also created the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, which hears thousands of appeals a year.

Mr. Wachter has extensive experience with the Right-to-Know Law and its effect on public agencies. He has provided counsel to nearly 60 local governmental agencies on RTK issues, appeared before numerous county courts as well as the Commonwealth Court on Right-to-Know Law matters, and has represented governmental agencies in approximately fifty appeals to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. He has also participated in numerous speaking engagements throughout Pennsylvania on RTK Law matters.

Mr. Wachter and Ms. Leader will provide testimony regarding school districts’ challenges in abiding by the Right-to-Know Law and suggested amendments to be included within SB 411.

For more information, please contact Sarah Holland.