Gov. Quinn signs improved sunshine law

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: Gov. Pat Quinn has signed HB 1370. HB 1370 improves the Illinois Freedom of Information Act by reducing from 7 to 5 the number of days within which an agency must respond to a FOIA request. HB 1370 also gives new powers to the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois to resolve disputes over which records are open and which are exempt.^[1]

The reforms came about in the wake of the corruption-ridden administration of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.^[2]

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HB 1370 also:

Makes it clear that access to public records improves government transparency.
Protects employees from retaliation from their superiors for releasing public information.
Permits attorney fees to be paid when access issues go to court.
Creates a fine of up to $5,000 for government agencies found to have "willfully and intentionally" failed to comply with the law.
Makes the first 25 pages of copies free, and sets a fee of $0.15 per page for any copies after that.
Specifies that records should be provided electronically if possible.