FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 16th, 2004

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Commonwealth Tower, Strawberry Square
303 Walnut Street, 5th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101

CONTACT

Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

Col. Miller Provides State Police Position On Background Investigations

HARRISBURG: State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller today issued the following statement on background investigations conducted by State Police for people appointed to the state’s Gaming Control Board:

“The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act requires State Police to conduct background investigations of those appointed to the Gaming Control Board and to provide reports of those investigations to the appointing authority.

“The Pennsylvania Right to Know Act specifically states that the term ‘public records’ does not include ‘any report, communication or other paper, the publication of which would disclose the institution, progress or result of an investigation undertaken by an agency in the performance of its official duties.’

“It is the position of State Police and the Office of General Counsel that State Police background investigations are confidential and not public records.”