What records are considered “public” by Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Act?
These are public records that must be disclosed under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Act: • Accounts, vouchers or contracts dealing with the receipt or disbursement of funds or the acquisition, use or disposal of services or supplies, materials, equipment or other property (includes canceled checks and cell phone bills paid by the county) • Minutes, orders or decisions by an agency fixing the personal or property rights, privileges, immunities, duties or obligations of any person or group of persons • Reports, communications or other papers pertaining to safety and health in industrial plants • Records of a conviction for a criminal act In addition, Pennsylvania courts have ruled that the following records are subject to inspection and copying under the Right to Know Act: • Code of Ethics and manuals fixing duties and obligations regarding the treatment of state inmates • Penn DOT contract to perform emissions inspection • Department of Welfare: Nursing home settlement and appeal activit
