PRINTER'S NO. 492
No. 472 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, STAPLETON, BODACK, O'PAKE, KASUNIC,
HELFRICK, BELAN AND MUSTO, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, FEBRUARY 12, 1997
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 10, 1968 (P.L.1158, No.365),
2 entitled "An act creating and establishing the Legislative
3 Data Processing Committee: providing for its membership;
4 prescribing its powers, functions and duties; and making an
5 appropriation," providing for on-line public access to public
6 State legislative data.
7 The General Assembly finds and declares that it is now
8 possible and feasible in this electronic age to more widely
9 distribute legislative information by way of electronic
10 communication in order to better inform the public of the
11 matters pending before the General Assembly and its proceedings.
12 The General Assembly further finds that it is desirable to make
13 information regarding these matters and proceedings available to
14 the citizens of this Commonwealth, irrespective of where they
15 reside, in a timely manner and for the least possible cost.
16 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17 hereby enacts as follows:
18 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 10, 1968
19 (P.L.1158, No.365), entitled "An act creating and establishing
20 the Legislative Data Processing Committee: providing for its
1 membership; prescribing its powers, functions and duties; and
2 making an appropriation," is amended by adding a paragraph to
3 read:
4 Section 2. The committee shall have the following powers and
5 duties:
6 * * *
7 (7) To make all of the following information available to
8 the public in electronic form:
9 (i) The legislative calendar, the schedule of legislative
10 committee hearings and a list of the committees of the General
11 Assembly and their members.
12 (ii) The text of each bill introduced in each current
13 legislative session, including each amended form of each bill.
14 (iii) The bill history of each bill introduced and amended
15 in each current legislative session.
16 (iv) The bill status of each bill introduced and amended in
17 each current legislative session.
18 (v) Any veto message concerning a bill in each current
19 legislative session.
20 (vi) The Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin.
21 (vii) The Constitution of Pennsylvania.
22 (viii) All statutes in effect in the Commonwealth.
23 (ix) Any additional files and information the Legislative
24 Data Processing Committee deems appropriate.
25 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
26 Section 2.1. (a) The information under section 2(7) shall
27 be made available to the public by means of access by way of the
28 largest nonproprietary, nonprofit cooperative public computer
29 network. The information shall be made available in one or more
30 formats and by one or more means in order to provide the
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1 greatest feasible access to the general public. Any person who
2 accesses the information may access all or any part of the
3 information. The information may also be made available by any
4 other means of access that would facilitate public access to the
5 information. The information that is maintained in the
6 legislative information system that is operated and maintained
7 by the Legislative Data Processing Center shall be made
8 available in the shortest feasible time after the information is
9 available in the information system.
10 (b) Any documentation that describes the electronic digital
11 formats of the information identified under section 2(7) and is
12 available to the public shall be made available by means of
13 access by way of the computer network specified under subsection
14 (a).
15 (c) Personal information concerning a person who accesses
16 the information may be maintained only for the purpose of
17 providing service to the person.
18 (d) No fee or other charge may be imposed as a condition of
19 accessing the information under section 2(7).
20 (e) The electronic public access provided by way of the
21 computer network specified under subsection (a) shall be in
22 addition to other electronic or print distribution of the
23 information.
24 (f) No action taken pursuant to this section shall be deemed
25 to alter or relinquish any copyright or other proprietary
26 interest or entitlement of the Commonwealth relating to any of
27 the information made available pursuant to this section.
28 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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