For Immediate Release
5/22/07

CONTACT:

Erik Arneson
(717) 787-4712

Sen. Pileggi's "Salary Information Act" Passes Senate Unanimously, Moves to State House

HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) which would require the posting of governmental salary information on the Internet passed the Senate unanimously today. Senate Bill 729 now moves to the state House for consideration.

"Giving the public the ability to easily review how their money is spent makes good sense," Sen. Pileggi said. "As we continue efforts to make government more open and accessible, this is an important step forward."

Under SB 729, known as the Governmental Salary Information Act, the state Treasurer would be required to post salary information for all state employees on an official web site.

Local government agencies, including counties, school districts, cities and other municipalities, would post employee salary information on their own official sites. Local agencies with no web site would be required to provide the information in electronic or written form within five days of a request. The Treasurer would maintain a directory of the local agency sites.

Sen. Pileggi's bill would require the posting of the name, title, agency, salary, and any supplemental payments for each employee. Information for legislative employees would also include the caucus or institution each employee works for. The bill calls for monthly updates.

Sen. Pileggi is also the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1, which would strengthen Pennsylvania's Open Records Act (also known as the Right-to-Know Law). The Senate State Government Committee will hold a hearing on that legislation in June.

More information about Sen. Pileggi's legislation and other issues can be found at www.SenatorPileggi.com.