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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
10/04/2024 12:52 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20150&chamber=H&cosponId=17212
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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: February 4, 2015 10:23 AM
From: Representative Joseph T. Hackett
To: All House members
Subject: Prohibiting Release of 9-1-1 Caller Info (Former HB 1041 of 2013)
 
I will soon reintroduce former House Bill 1041 to amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) to protect the privacy of individuals who make 9-1-1 emergency calls.

Several years ago, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, in the case of County of York v. Pennsylvania Open Records and Ted Czech, held that the Right-to-Know Law required the County of York to release destination addresses or cross-street information with its 9-1-1 time response logs.

I think most would agree that it was never the intent of the Open Records Act of 2008 to provide the public with any information that could reveal the identity of 9-1-1 callers. This legislation will clarify to the courts and to the public, that information revealing the identity of a 9-1-1 caller is not a record to be included under the Open Records Law. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the release of all or part of a public record that contains a 9-1-1 caller’s name, telephone number, address or location.

I believe this legislation is needed to ensure the safety and privacy of individuals who call 9-1-1 for emergency services. The information recorded during 9-1-1 calls can often contain very sensitive details that, if released to the public, could pose a grave danger to callers and victims. In addition, it will ensure that people who report crimes and witnesses are afforded protection and are able to remain anonymous.

House Bill 1041 passed the House unanimously last session, but never received consideration in the Senate.

Cosponsors of HB 1041 last session were: BARRAR, K. BOYLE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FARRY, GILLEN, C. HARRIS, HEFFLEY, M. KELLER, KORTZ, MASSER, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, O’NEILL, PICKETT, QUINN, ROSS, STEPHENS and WATSON

Please contact Kevin Andrews in my office at kandrews@pahousegop.com or (610) 461-5543 if you have any questions.

Thank you for your consideration.


Introduced as HB756