The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC)

The SRBC meets quarterly and is constituent friendly. They have an expansive archive, and the Right-to-Know officer is helpful and responsive. The SRBC is one of the few agencies that holds its meeting at a convenient time, and parking is free and accessible.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

The PA Game Commission meets quarterly and is accessible to the public. They track their Right-to-Know requests and provide summaries, which is above and beyond what other state agencies provide Their meeting minutes and transcripts are professionally maintained. Parking is available, and some meetings are on Saturdays.

Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS)

SERS excels at electronic notifications for meetings, and allows speaking only at Board meetings. They are proactive in Right-to-Know requests, and are notable for their prompt and accurate responses.

Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS)

Rock the Capital has not filed right-to-know request, but HATS works well with the public. HATS could improve by posting their meeting minutes a bit sooner, though their website navigation and archive is excellent. 

Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission

The Ethic Commission has the most generous public speaking policy and is engaged with speakers. Their meeting location and time are not convenient for the public. 

PA Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS)

PSERS excels at electronic notifications for meetings and allows public speaking at Board and Committee meetings. To speak, you must register with the Board Secretary by noon the day before the meeting. The meeting time and location are a challenge. Their Right-to-Know responses are average.

Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA)

The PBDA is currently federally funded, but it’s future and revenue stream are unclear. Public speaking was initially challenging and it is now better (if you can find the meeting location). Rock the Capital has not filed a Right-to-Know for this agency. 

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

The Gaming Board could improve by having commissioners with more relevant experience. This is a busy meeting venue and the hearing process is too cordial. The Gaming Board needs to change public speaking time so is not at the end of a long meeting. Additionally, you must request to speak via a pre-signup usually 24 hours in advance. Right-to-Know responses have steadily improved in terms of content and timing.

Commonwealth Finance Authority

The Finance Authority is a branch of the Department of Community & Economic Development. Meetings are more than two months apart. Rock the Capital has not yet filed a Right-to-Know request for this agency. Rock the Capital tracks numerous applications and has filed Right-to-Know requests with some of the applicants.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

 The Turnpike Commission board parses out millions of dollars in contracts at every meeting without deliberations. They are in direct conflict of the Sunshine Laws. They meet at 11:00 am on Tuesdays, and the public must request to speak at a meeting in advance. 

Southeastern Public Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

SEPTA meetings and times could be more accessible for the public. They are not good at keeping their website updated and minutes fall behind schedule. SEPTA does not have an accessible video archive. Rock the Capital has not requested to speak or a filed a Right-to-Know from this agency. To their credit, SEPTA elicits the most diverse and robust public input.

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB)

Rock the Capital has spoken at the LCB agency meetings, which tends to be combative. Right-to-Know responses and timing are average. The LCB rarely deliberates in public and decisions seem arbitrary; especially during and after COVID.  The meeting location is hard to find, has limited off-street parking. 

PA Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)

PHEAA has greatly improved since 2000's. They could do even better if they improved their public speaking, deliberated more in public, and live-streamed their meetings with a video archive. The public must request to publicly speak 24 hours in advance and be approved.  

Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Harrisburg (ICAH)

The ICA is highly professional, but is a laissez faire oversight body that would benefit from enforcement tools. The Capital City of Harrisburg is consistently behind schedule, provides conflicting information, and lacks a map to get out of Act 47. The location, parking, and time are horrendous: Wednesday at 3:00 at Strawberry Square. There is no live streaming except by Rock the Capital. Right-to-Know responses from the ICA are quick but perfunctory. 

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC)

PA PUC Right-to-Know responses are poor and the Right-to-Know officer was not helpful. Meeting minutes or transcripts are not available on website; the public has to call or write to receive them. Public comments are limited to cases before the PUC. Requests for public comment have been made over and over again and denied by the last two PUC Chairmans. The agency claims a quasi-judicial immunity, but can receive public comments at the end of the meeting. The public has no venue to express concerns relating to data centers, downed lines, gas and electric rates, fracking, or water consolidation—unless they litigate or hire attorney.

Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA)

Rock the Capital has had extensive and negative Right-to-Know experiences with CCA. They hinder the public process, are not helpful, and appeal everything. Rock the Capital has won every appeal to date, and there are three appeals pending in Commonwealth Court and the Office of Open Records. They do not deliberate in public and decisions are made in the Executive Session before the meeting. The public typically has to wait an hour before the public meeting begins. The meetings are not live streamed nor archived—Rock the Capital provides the only outside connection. The public can attend a meeting by requesting a Zoom invite. CCA requires a pre-signup at least 24 hours in advance for anyone who wishes to speak. 

Legislative Audit Advisory Commission

The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission needs an overhaul, scoring only yes for posting their meeting information and live streaming their one meeting. This is the body that “polices” the “slush funds.” The Commission usually meets for less than 15 minutes to discuss how the legislature is funded. The meetings take place on the same day as the Governor’s address so they media does not attend. Parking is a challenge, given the location and timing. The meeting room is in a remote area of the Irvis Building. There is no opportunity for the public to speak. The Audit is not released at the meeting and the Commission has not implemented any recommendations in the past. The Auditor stopped providing recommendations at the Commission’s request in 2024. There is no RFP for the Auditor and the former Chairman was Governor Josh Shapiro.