Online Right to Know Law Submission Portal

Right-to-Know Law and Public Records Requests

Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) provides the public with access to records of state and local government agencies, including Worcester Township, subject to certain exceptions established by law.

The Right-to-Know Law provides access to existing records. It does not require the Township to answer questions, provide explanations, conduct research, or create a record that does not already exist.

Before You Submit a Request

A Right-to-Know request should identify the records you are seeking as clearly and specifically as possible.

Helpful information may include:

• The type of record being requested
• The subject matter of the records
• A specific date or date range
• Names, addresses, projects, properties, or other identifying information
• Whether you are requesting electronic copies, paper copies, or in-person inspection

For example, rather than asking, “Why did the Township make this decision?” a request should identify the records related to that decision, such as meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, or other documents.

You are not required to explain why you are requesting the records or how you intend to use them.

Submitting a Request

Requests may be submitted using Worcester Township’s online Right-to-Know Request Form.

After submitting the online form, you will receive an email confirming that your request was received. The confirmation will include:

• Your Township RTKL tracking number

• A complete copy of your submitted request

Please retain your tracking number and reference it in any correspondence regarding your request.

What Happens After You Submit a Request?

1. The Township Reviews the Request

The Township’s Open Records Officer will review the request, identify the records being requested, and coordinate a search for responsive Township records.  Submitting a request does not necessarily mean that every responsive record will be available for public disclosure. Certain records or portions of records may be protected from disclosure by the Right-to-Know Law, another state or federal law, a court order, or a recognized legal privilege.

2. The Township Has Five Business Days to Respond

Under Pennsylvania law, the Township generally must issue a response within five business days after receiving a written Right-to-Know request.

The Township's response may:

• Grant the request

• Deny the request;
• Grant the request in part and deny it in part; or
• Notify the requester that additional time is necessary

3. A 30-Day Extension May Be Necessary

The Right-to-Know Law permits the Township to take additional time to respond under certain circumstances.

An extension may be necessary when, for example:

• Records must be reviewed and redacted;

• Legal review is necessary;
• Records are stored at another location;
• The request is extensive or complex;
• Staffing limitations prevent a complete response within five business days; or
• Applicable fees must be addressed.

If an extension is necessary, the Township will provide written notice explaining the reason for the extension and the date by which a response is expected.

The statutory extension generally permits up to an additional 30 calendar days. A longer period may be used if the requester agrees to the additional time in writing.

Receiving the Township's Response

A final response will generally fall into one of three categories:

Granted

The requested public records will be provided or made available for inspection.

Granted in Part / Denied in Part

Some records or portions of records will be provided, while other information may be withheld or redacted.

Denied

The Township has determined that the requested records, or certain requested records, are not subject to public access under applicable law.

When access is denied in whole or in part, the Township's written response will identify the reason for the denial and provide information regarding the requester's appeal rights.

Redactions

A record is not necessarily withheld simply because part of it contains information that is not public.  When appropriate, the Township may redact protected information and provide the remainder of the record.

Fees

There is no fee to submit a Right-to-Know request.

Fees may apply for copying, printing, certification, postage, specialized records, or other costs permitted by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records' Official RTKL Fee Schedule or another applicable law.

Generally, there is no additional fee for records provided electronically.

If estimated fees exceed $100, the Township may require prepayment before processing or producing the records.

The Township does not charge a requester for staff time spent searching for records, reviewing records to determine whether they are public, or performing legal review or redaction.

Appeals

If a request is denied, partially denied, or deemed denied because a response was not issued within the required time, the requester may file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR).

An appeal generally must be filed within 15 business days of the denial or deemed denial.

There is no fee to file an appeal with the Office of Open Records, and an attorney is not required.

Additional information, appeal forms, and instructions are available from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.

Tips for an Effective Request

The Township wants to help requesters identify and obtain public records as efficiently as possible. Requests are generally easier to process when they identify specific records rather than asking broad questions.

Whenever possible:

• Identify the records you want rather than asking the Township to answer a question
• Provide a reasonable date range.
• Identify the relevant property, project, department, person, meeting, or subject.
• Identify particular types of records when known, such as emails, invoices, permits, meeting minutes, agreements, or reports.
• Avoid unnecessarily broad terms such as “all records relating to” when a more specific description is possible.

If you are unsure whether a formal Right-to-Know request is necessary, you may contact the Township. Many routinely available public records may be provided without requiring a formal RTKL request.