Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB 5742

Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Changes the definition of "recurrent requester" to exclude requests made by members of the General Assembly and requests made to access and disseminate information pertaining to public policy and the administration of State government. Exempts from disclosure under the Act certain records in which opinions of a public body or its agents are expressed. Provides that the exemption does not apply if the records were produced in connection with the preparation of a report that is required to be publicly produced by an agency of the executive branch. Provides that the public body shall include with each denial of a request for public records an index that includes specified information. Provides that except in the case of a recurrent requester, a public body denying a request for public records shall place in an interest-bearing escrow account or other segregated account of the public body the sum of $7,500 for each request denied. Provides that the deposited funds shall remain in the account for a period of 60 days after the date of the public body's final denial of a request, or, if a requester has sought review of the denial or challenged the denial in court, until the review process has been completed or a final order has been entered. Provides that if a determination is made that the public body improperly denied a request to inspect or copy a public record, the deposited funds shall be awarded to the requester in addition to or as part of any other award. Makes other changes.

Date	Chamber	Action
1/8/2019	House	Session Sine Die

Date	Chamber	Action
2/16/2018	House	Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Scott Drury
2/16/2018	House	First Reading
2/16/2018	House	Referred to Rules Committee
3/21/2018	House	Assigned to Executive Committee
4/13/2018	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
1/8/2019	House	Session Sine Die