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How to File an Appeal
To file an appeal under the Right-to-Know law, a citizen must provide the following:
- A copy of the RTK request
- A copy of the Agency’s response (or a written statement that the request was deemed denied meaning the Agency didn’t respond at all).
- State the grounds they assert this is a public record
- Address any ground stated by the agency
All appeals must be made in writing and shall include the following information that may be submitted using the Appeals Forms found HERE.
The appeal must be submitted to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the mailing date of the Agency’s response. Appeals should be sent to the Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333. They may also be submitted via facsimile to 717-425-5343 or via email to openrecords@pa.gov as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment.
You must provide this within 15 business days from the date that the Agency mailed to you a denial letter or the date that the request was “deemed denied.” When an agency does not respond to you in writing with five business days of your written RTK request that request is “deemed denied.” If an agency did not respond, please indicate this in writing.
You must provide the required information no later than the 15th business day or your appeal will be untimely under the law and therefore cannot be processed. If that time frame has expired or will expire, before you provide to us the required information, you will have to file another RTK request with the Agency.
When we receive your completed file, we will assign a docket number, send you an acknowledgment letter and assign an Appeals Officer to process your appeal.