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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 675 PRINTER'S NO. 755
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 686
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, ROTHMAN, COLEMAN, PHILLIPS-HILL, STEFANO AND
J. WARD, APRIL 28, 2025
SENATOR DUSH, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, MAY 6, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), entitled
"An act providing for access to public information, for a
designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency,
local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for
procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial
review and for the Office of Open Records; imposing
penalties; providing for reporting by State-related
institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract
information on the Internet; and making related repeals," in
judicial review, providing for criminal penalty.
AMENDING TITLE 18 (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN FALSIFICATION AND INTIMIDATION,
FURTHER PROVIDING FOR THE OFFENSE OF TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC
RECORDS OR INFORMATION.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known
as the Right-to-Know Law, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 1305.1. Criminal penalty.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if the
person intentionally and unlawfully alters, destroys, conceals,
removes or otherwise impairs the verity or availability of any
record for which a request has been made under this act.
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(b) Grading.--An offense under this section is a felony of
the third degree.
SECTION 1. SECTION 4911(B) OF TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 4911. TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS OR INFORMATION.
* * *
(B) GRADING.--AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION IS A MISDEMEANOR
OF THE SECOND DEGREE UNLESS THE RECORD, DOCUMENT OR THING IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CURRENT REQUEST OR APPEAL UNDER THE ACT OF FEBRUARY
14, 2008 (P.L.6, NO.3), KNOWN AS THE RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW, OR THE
INTENT OF THE ACTOR IS TO DEFRAUD OR INJURE ANYONE, IN WHICH
CASE THE OFFENSE IS A FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250SB0686PN0755 - 2 -
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