New law strengthens state’s Sunshine Act

By Taylor Brown

tbrown@yourmvi.com

A law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf this week will aim to hold local governments more accountable and increase citizen participation in matters that affect their communities and their tax dollars.

Sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, the law amends the Sunshine Act, also known as the Open Meetings Law, to require state government agencies, local municipalities and school districts to post an agenda online at least 24 hours before the start of a public meeting. 

The Sunshine Act requires agencies to deliberate and take official action on agency business in an open and public meeting. It also requires that meetings have prior notice and that the public can attend, participate and comment before an agency takes official action on any matter.

It also requires agencies to have an available public agenda so citizens can see matters that will be discussed and voted upon.

Stefano said the bill was inspired by a school board meeting in which a superintendent was hired with no audience members present. 

“The public had no idea because the agenda was not made available,” Stefano said. “And I know there were members of the public who wanted to have input into that decision. 

“It is so important for people to make sure their voices are heard when it is their tax dollars being spent, and in some cases local governments and school boards can be lax when it comes to what exactly they are voting on.” 

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