On June 6, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 1191, which would bar athletes who were male at birth from playing in girls’ sports programs. In a 30-20 vote primarily split along party lines, proponents talked about safety and unfair competition issues, while those opposed framed the bill as an attack against transgender children. The action has left school officials in the state wondering … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Senate Passes Bill to Bar Transgender Athletes from Girls’ Sports
KingSpry Blog
Commonwealth Court Shields Disclosure of Right to Know Requests for Personal Contact Information
On May 26, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that personal contact information contained in requests submitted under the Right-to-Know Law may be exempted from disclosure. In the unpublished decision, Markey v. Treasury Department, No. 759 C.D. 2021, the court explained that the law is not “a mechanism for an individual to access private or nonpublic information.” The Dispute Last April, … [Read more...] about Commonwealth Court Shields Disclosure of Right to Know Requests for Personal Contact Information
School Safety Requirements in Pennsylvania
In the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, school officials are once again hyperfocused on school safety. In Pennsylvania, Act 44 of 2018, enacted following the shooting at Parkland High School in Florida, established several school safety programs, notably the Safe2Say Something Program and mandatory safety training for school staff. Current … [Read more...] about School Safety Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Holds Evidence of Bad Faith Through Municipal Actions Sanctionable Under Right-to-Know Law
Pursuant to the Right-to-Know-Law, the Commonwealth Court finds a municipality’s unexcused failure to send requested documents until after the Office of Open Records’ ordered deadline, or with redactions, may demonstrate bad faith warranting an imposition of a civil penalty up to $1,500. Background of the Case In McFalls v. Municipality of Norristown, Amy McFalls (“McFalls”) requested documents … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Holds Evidence of Bad Faith Through Municipal Actions Sanctionable Under Right-to-Know Law
Will Changes to the 2020 Title IX Regulations Be Postponed?
While educational institutions are holding their collective breath, anticipating the Department of Education (DOE) releasing its promised Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) detailing amendments to the existing 2020 Title IX Regulations, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals may have thrown a proverbial “wrench” into that release. On February 7, 2022, the Fourth Circuit filed a petition for … [Read more...] about Will Changes to the 2020 Title IX Regulations Be Postponed?
Proposed Tipping Regulation is Approved, Will Also Redefine Who is A Tipped Employee
Last fall, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration proposed a regulation that would require tipped employees to earn at least $135 a month in tips before their employer is permitted to pay the $2.83 per hour tipped rate, rather than state’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. At present, Pennsylvania employers can pay tipped employees less than the state minimum wage if they make at least $30 a month in … [Read more...] about Proposed Tipping Regulation is Approved, Will Also Redefine Who is A Tipped Employee