Senate Committee approves Open Records law

Committees hold hearing on winter preparedness and insurance merger

Committee approval of a bill to open up the Right to Know Law and hearings to examine the state’s preparedness for the upcoming winter season and review the proposed insurance company merger highlighted the actions during the state Senate session week of October 29th, according to Senator Bob Regola (R-39).

The Senate State Government Committee this week approved Senate Bill 1, legislation co-sponsored by Senator Regola, to strengthen Pennsylvania's Open Records Law.  SB 1 would change current law so that all records from executive agencies and local agencies are presumed to be open unless they fall under a specific exception established in law.  The bill includes exceptions so that certain records remain private, such as Social Security numbers, medical records, records that would threaten domestic security, and police investigative records.

“Senate Bill 1 will enact the premise that records are open to public scrutiny, unless specified otherwise.  Changing the presumption addresses the most serious weakness of current law,” Senator Regola said.  “The phrase ‘right to know’ must have real meaning in the way the law is written and the way it is carried out by the state and local governments.”

Senator Regola has taken a strong leadership stance in the effort to enact government reform as he is the prime sponsor of the Taxpayer Protection Act Constitutional Amendment -- to set limits on state spending -- as well as a Constitutional Amendment to end “lame duck” voting sessions.

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness and Transportation Committees held a joint public hearing to receive a status report on the state’s efforts to improve its response to winter emergencies.

The state is implementing recommendations by a consultant that evaluated the actions of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, State Police, Department of Transportation, and National Guard during the 2007 Valentines Day blizzard.  That storm stranded hundreds of motorists on state highways for up to 20 hours in sub-freezing temperatures.

The ‘Witt Report’ criticized Pennsylvania's emergency preparedness.  “There is a remarkable lack of awareness and understanding of Pennsylvania's emergency management system, including the emergency alert levels, even among senior agency leaders,” the report cited.  Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler, State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller and PEMA director Robert French spoke about their agency's efforts to improve readiness; technological and human resource enhancements; improved internal and public communications; and the development of clearer interagency emergency operations plans.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee this week questioned the CEOs of Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) about the impact the pending merger of those companies would have on competition in the health care insurance market.

Currently, Highmark is the largest insurance provider in Pennsylvania with about 26.79 percent market share and IBC is the second largest with 26.49 percent of the market.

Under questioning from Senator Regola, the Blues officials said the merged company would maintain dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but expected to cut 1,000 jobs from their combined payroll.

###

Contact:  Nate Silcox (717) 787-6063