PennsylvaniaBill would exempt volunteer emergency groups’ records from public access
If enacted, the bill would let volunteer emergency companies and firefighters’ relief associations withhold records from public requests, with an exception for certain contracting companies.
What it does
Volunteer EMS, fire, and rescue companies, plus firefighters’ relief associations, would generally be able to keep their records from public access under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law.
Argument forVolunteer emergency companies and firefighters’ relief associations could keep more of their records private, which may protect information they hold.
Argument againstPeople seeking public records could have less access to records held by volunteer emergency companies, including companies that contract with government agencies.
More detail
The bill would exempt records held by specified volunteer emergency organizations and relief associations from public access under the Right-to-Know Law. This covers volunteer EMS, fire, and rescue companies, plus volunteer firefighters’ relief associations, as defined in the cited statutes. The Right-to-Know Law provision in section 506(d) would still apply to volunteer EMS, fire, and rescue companies that contract with a Commonwealth or local agency. The bill says it would take effect 60 days after enactment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Removed from tableLatest
- Sep 30Laid on the table
- Jun 22Re-reported as committedMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Re-referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Jun 10Second considerationMinor
- Apr 21First considerationMinor
- Vote recorded Committee vote (Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness): Reported as Committed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Reported as committedMinor
- 2025
- Jul 15Referred to Veterans Affairs & Emergency PreparednessIntroduced
Public SafetyGovernment & Ethics