Illinois governor signs bill to improve FOIA laws
From Sunshine Review
August 18, 2009 Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the Senate Bill 189 into law today, setting the stage for faster Freedom of Information Act request processing and greater transparency.[1]
[edit] Attorney General Lisa Madigan
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) championed the open records legislation that Gov. Quinn signed into law. The new law, which will take effect January 1, 2010, will make government more transparent and public records more easily available. Attorney General Madigan has been negotiating this legislation with lawmakers, non-profits, like the Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition, and other interested organizations, including the Illinois Press Association.
The new law amends the Illinois Freedom of Information Act to shorten the time frame for governmental bodies to respond to public records requests from seven to five business days. It also shortens the time allowed in an extension from seven to five business days.
Under the new law, Madigan can have her public access counselor make decisions about whether public bodies should or should not release public records, a decision that can then be enforced by the courts.[1]
[edit] Consequences
If government entities disobey the new law, they could be slapped with fines up to $5,000.
Now, there is a presumption that all records are public. If a public agency wants to redact documents or parts in them, the agency has to prove that the record is exempt by providing "clear and convincing evidence."
Madigan said the law gave the Illinois Freedom of Information Act some teeth, making the state's boards and commissions open and accessible to the public.
"Today, Illinois comes out of the Stone Age and into the modern era of transparency and openness," Madigan said. "By creating a public access counselor with binding opinion authority to fight for an open and accountable government, Illinois is now at the nation's forefront. With this new law, the people of Illinois will now have a greater ability to know what their government is doing."[1]
[edit] External links
- New Illinois Law
- Illinois Attorney General website
- Better Government Association website
- National Freedom of Information Coalition website
- Illinois Press Association website
[edit] References
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