Oct. 05, 2021
HARRISBURG – This week, the House passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) to make disease-related reporting fall under the Right-to-Know Law, permitting it be public knowledge.
“Disease-related data is being withheld from our residents, and they deserve to know relevant health information that continues to impact their daily lives,” Staats said. “Amending this act warrants transparency of the government on health data, while also protecting the privacy of each of our residents’ information.”
Under Section 15 of The Disease Prevention and Control Act of 1955, a provision currently allows the Department of Health to withhold disease-related data.
House Bill 1893 would repeal Section 15 and replace it with a provision stating all disease information under The Disease Prevention and Control Act of 1955 would be subject to the Right-to-Know Law. All personal information would be protected while full access to government information would be guaranteed.
“This measure is needed to make disease-related data collected more available to our residents,” Staats said.
Following a vote today in the House, the bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
Representative Craig Staats
145th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives