HARRISBURG, February 12, 2008 - - State Sen. Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) today applauded the state Senate’s final passage of the oft-debated open records bill. 

He said the legislation (Senate Bill 1) would give the public greater and timelier access to government records.

“Today’s senate vote is a huge victory for openness and accountability in state government,” Ferlo said.  “This was not a Democrat or Republican issue. The bipartisan effort and work on this bill was tremendous and fueled the passage of this strong legislation.”

Ferlo said the bill would assure that most government records would be presumed to be open, accessible, available, and reviewable.

“We have had a very ambitious and productive legislative session,” Ferlo said.  “Senate Bill 1 has been discussed and amended since November, and I am glad that this solid legislation is finally reaching the Governor’s desk.”

Ferlo said the bill would also allow for the disclosure of birth dates on court and public documents to help verify identity; make 9-1-1 recordings available when disclosure would serve the public interest; and would make correspondence between legislators and lobbyists public documents.

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