For Immediate Release
7/12/07

CONTACT:

DONALD HOUSER
dhouser@pasen.gov
(717) 787-1377

Corman Announces Senate Action To Make
More Government Records Open to Public

Public Can Access Consolidated Titles Starting Tomorrow

(HARRISBURG) – As part of its effort to make state government more transparent, the Senate changed its rules to require the placement of the acts and statutes of the Pennsylvania state legislature on the Internet, according to Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), the Senate's Majority Policy Chairman.

"Starting on July 13th, the public will for the first time be able to search Pennsylvania's laws online," Corman said.

Corman has introduced legislation in the current (SB422) and past legislative sessions that would require the Legislative Data Processing Committee (LDPC) to place all existing Pennsylvania statutes on its web page and make them available to the public. He said he is pleased that he and the new Senate leadership team have moved forward on the issue.

"Until this change, Pennsylvania was one of very few states that did not have its statutes available on-line for the public," Corman said. "State residents should have the ability to view and print laws online – it is one way to make government more accountable. Having this information on-line provides quicker, easier access for constituents seeking legislative information, in addition to contributing to a more open state government. I was proud to lead this effort on behalf of Pennsylvania's citizens."

Corman, who sits on the Legislative Data Processing Committee, said that legislators and staff have the ability to view and print acts and statutes on the LDPC website, www.legis.state.pa.us, and this user friendly system will now be available to the public. He praised Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) for ensuring that the public has access.

"Our leadership made it clear that we want legislative records and Senate information to be available to the public and easily accessible," Corman said. "This rules change signals our commitment to moving ahead with important government reforms."

Corman said the state Senate currently has rules in place to put the following information on the Senate’s website, www.pasen.gov:

• Amendments to the Internet before they can be offered on the Senate floor.
• Senate floor votes on the Internet as soon as possible, always within 24 hours.
• Senate’s Legislative Journal—which includes the full text of all floor debates—within 45 days after the date of the session.

"For years I have advocated that we place our acts and statutes on-line, just as we do our bills," Corman said. "As the Senate has moved to be more open with our records and place more legislative information on our website, opening up this information is a logical step."

Corman said that the LDPC currently has user friendly functions that allow people to search for bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly at its website, www.legis.state.pa.us. Starting tomorrow, July 13, 2007, the public can access Pennsylvania's consolidated titles and search current Pennsylvania law.

Senator Jake Corman, the Senate’s Majority Policy Chairman, represents the 34th Senatorial District, which includes Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry and Union Counties.

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