Jul 25, 2007 By Kori Walter For The 3 min read

HARRISBURG – A bill that would expand public access to municipal and state records ranging from police reports to Penn State football coach Joe Paterno’s salary will be at the top of this fall’s legislative agenda, House and Senate leaders have pledged. The House State Government Committee has scheduled a hearing Aug. 7 in Harrisburg on open records legislation sponsored by Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Uniontown.

Mahoney has proposed revamping the state’s open records law to make it more difficult for the local and state government and agencies that receive public funding to block access to records.

“I just think it’s a little jump start to get the bill in front of the whole House,” Mahoney said of the August hearing. “I dare one of those legislators to vote against it because I’ll be ready to fight then.”

Mahoney started the fight for loosening restrictions on government records last year during his campaign.

In March, he introduced legislation overhauling the open records law. In June, a House panel looking at legislative reforms recommended that the full House pass Mahoney’s bill with one exception.

While Mahoney proposed creating an agency to resolve disputes over whether a document should be public, the legislative panel recommended letting the courts decide that issue.

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said he supports passing a strong open records law this fall.

“It is my intention to have a vote on open records as soon as possible upon our return,” DeWeese said. “Mr. Mahoney has been an advocate for this open records theme for a long time, and I’m hopeful that his legislation will be the proposal that the governor affixes his signature to.”

DeWeese has also pledged to consider a bill setting campaign contribution limits on candidates in state and local elections. Candidates currently can receive an unlimited amount of cash from donors.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, a Delaware County Republican, also promised that the open records law would be a priority.

Pileggi’s bill would presume that all government records are public unless they fall under a specific exception.

“Changing the presumption on open records in Pennsylvania won’t be a simple task,” Pileggi said in a prepared statement. “Everyone recognizes that some records should not be made public. We need to make the list of exceptions as narrow and as clear as possible, to give the public access while protecting legitimate interests.”

The House and Senate adopted new rules in January, including ending sessions at 11 p.m. and requiring a waiting period before voting on final versions of legislation.

But the lone government reform law enacted requires lobbyists to disclose how much they spend trying to influence public policy.