(Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) HARRISBURG, Pa. - Supporters of the bill say it would help stem a tide of frivolous requests that can tie up state resources, while opponents say it's unlikely to cure the problem and probably unconstitutional, to boot.The bill passed the House with a 112-88 vote Tuesday and now goes to the Senate.
It would amend the state’s Right-to-Know Law by restricting the access inmates have to documents held by governments and public agencies.Agencies would be required to supply public government documents about the inmate only in specified categories, and as long as those records don’t "diminish the safety or security" of anyone or the correctional facility where the inmate is being held.Incarcerated people are regarded as any other requester through current law, said Liz Wagenseller, executive director of the Office of Open Records.Rep.
Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, said the bill would cut off incarcerated people from legitimately requesting information to which they're entitled."It is unconscionable to me that we could vote for a bill with that type of language that basically takes a sledgehammer to the civil rights of people who are incarcerated," he said.Rep.
Louis C. Schmitt Jr., R-Blair, the bill’s primary sponsor, said the legislation is an effort to ease the burden for agencies that have to try to meet a flood of requests."Inmate requests under the Right-to-Know Law make up a large percentage of disputes as to what inmates are entitled to.