Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (“Act”) Notice Requirements

By: Keith A. Clark, Esq.

The purpose of the Act is to require state and local government agencies to deliberate and take official action on agency business in an open and public meeting. These provisions may require compliance by Boards and Committees affiliated directly or indirectly with state or local government, consisting of volunteer members. The provisions of the Act detail specific notice requirements agencies must follow so it can adequately inform the public and provide them with the opportunity to attend.

The Act is not specific to only regular agency meetings but also special, recessed, or reconvened meetings. It is important for agencies to be aware of the notice provisions to avoid violations of the Act.

Notice of meetings must include place, date, and time of meetings. It must also be posted by a certain date and published in general circulation to satisfy legal obligations. If the agency has a public website, it must post notice and its agenda for the public. Additionally, measures must be taken to accommodate for persons with disability wishing to attend the meeting. There are exceptions to the general rules involving Executive Sessions and certain types of working meetings.

The above is a black and white summary of the Act.  For more information, contact Keith A. Clark at kclark@shumakerwilliams.com.

The information contained herein is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this blog should be construed as legal advice from Shumaker Williams P.C. or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. This blog is current as of the date of original publication.