The Office of Open Records has posted two new draft sample forms and is seeking public comment on both.

The Right-to-Know Law and other statutes make various records public, including certain records from law enforcement agencies and county coroners. The OOR often dockets appeals involving these types of records. In an effort to help these agencies provide information under the RTKL, and to help requesters across the state receive more uniform responses, the OOR has prepared these two sample forms.

• Coroners’ Public Information Report – Sample (PDF)
• Coroners’ Public Information Report – Sample (DOCX)

• Police Blotter Information Report – Sample (PDF)
• Police Blotter Information Report – Sample (DOCX)

Law enforcement agencies and county coroners would not be required to use the forms, but doing so could help reduce the workload related to responding to RTKL requests. (These forms do not represent the totality of information available from these agencies, but they do represent some of the most commonly requested information.)

Public comment on the draft forms will be accepted through Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.

The best way to comment is via email to openrecords@pa.gov or by using the form available on the Contact page at the OOR website. Comments can also be submitted via postal mail (Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234) and fax (717-425-5343).