Bill Status of HB 5557   103rd General Assembly

Short Description:  PUBLIC ACCESS COUNSELOR DUTIES

House Sponsors
Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  4/5/2024HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
5 ILCS 120/3.5
5 ILCS 140/9.5

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Public Access Counselor may investigate, gather data, and report on a public body for frequent violations of the Acts or for frequent violations of court orders for failure to comply with the Acts. Additionally allows the Public Access Counselor to, under the Freedom of Information Act, investigate, gather data, and report on a public body for failure to comply with that Act, for unreasonably denying a request under that Act, and for failure to adequately inform a requester why a request is denied under that Act. Provides that the Public Access Counselor may start an investigation after receiving a complaint from a person or sua sponte. Allows the Public Access Counselor to impose civil penalties if the Public Access Counselor's investigation finds that a public body has violated the provisions after a hearing with notice to the public body with an opportunity for the public body's representative to be heard. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce a penalty imposed by filing an action in circuit court. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules to implement the provisions, including the procedures of the investigation and hearings and defining "frequent violation".

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/9/2024HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl
  2/9/2024HouseFirst Reading
  2/9/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/28/2024HouseAssigned to Executive Committee
  4/1/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl
  4/1/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  4/2/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Executive Committee
  4/5/2024HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  4/5/2024HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

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