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"Local governments will be impacted," noted attorney says. "Change is never easy." (Harrisburg, PA) -- Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law last week the first major overhaul of the state's Right to Know law in 51 years. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and strengthens what some have called, "one of the weakest open-records laws in the nation." "The new PA Right to Know Law will change some procedures for citizens who seek access to government information at the local levels," Attorney Guy P. Beneventano, Esq. said today. Beneventano, a municipal lawyer who serves as a Solicitor for Latimore Township, the County of Dauphin, and the Dauphin County General Authority, said that changes will impact local governments, "and it will take time for policy and procedures to be put into place." "The complexities of the newly revised law raises numerous issues for virtually every governmental entity in the Commonwealth," Beneventano noted. "Matters of regulation and compliance, and interaction with corporations and the general public seeking information, will become a focal point in the coming months." Beneventano said he will monitor developments at the new Office of Records in Harrisburg to prepare clients for compliance with the new law. "It's important to establish a good working relationship with the Office of Records early on," he noted. "There will no doubt be issues arising out of the law that become contentious and we'll be looking for clear guidance, as well as establishing procedures for local officials to input into that process," he added. A public law attorney with the Harrisburg firm of Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall, LLP, Beneventano said the new law excludes up to 30 types of records from public disclosure, including information that would likely result in physical harm, or jeopardize someone's security. "Records that would jeopardize computer security, or Social Security numbers, personal financial information, phone numbers, personal e-mail addresses, spouses' names, marital status and beneficiary or dependent information are exempted by the law," Beneventano said. "So policy and procedures will have to be put in place at every government level to insure privacy while opening public access," he added. "There will be changes, and each government agency will have to work through what those changes mean to the public at the local level." Beneventano said his law firm is developing a seminar now on the subject to assist public administrators and others in working through the open records process. "Our attorneys have been instrumental in helping develop the new law," he said. "So we will use that experience to assure our clients and government officials are properly advised on compliance with the law moving forward." Founded in 1871, Nauman Smith is the oldest law firm in continuous existence in Harrisburg. For information visit the Nauman Smith website at www.nssh.com. For more information regarding this news release, please contact Guy Beneventano at guypbenny@nssh.com or call J. Stephen Feinour, at sfeinour@nssh.com or 717.236.3010. EDITOR'S NOTE: Attorneys are available upon request for comment, interviews, and seminars on the subject of the Pennsylvania Right To Know Law. For more information, please contact the attorneys directly, or for assistance contact, Tom William, 717.236.3010, or Bob Philbin, 717.975.2148. Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall, LLP |