HB0956enr 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0956 Enrolled LRB093 05766 RCE 05859 b

AN ACT concerning freedom of information.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by changing Sections 9, 10, and 11 as follows:

(5 ILCS 140/9) (from Ch. 116, par. 209)

Sec. 9. (a) Each public body or head of a public body denying a request for public records shall notify by letter the person making the request of the decision to deny such, the reasons for the denial, and the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial. Each notice of denial by a public body shall also inform such person of his right to appeal to the head of the public body. Each notice of denial of an appeal by the head of a public body shall inform such person of his right to judicial review under Section 11 of this Act.

(b) When a request for public records is denied on the grounds that the records are exempt under Section 7 of this Act, the notice of denial shall specify the exemption claimed to authorize the denial. Copies of all notices of denial shall be retained by each public body in a single central office file that is open to the public and indexed according to the type of exemption asserted and, to the extent feasible, according to the types of records requested.

(Source: P.A. 83-1013.)

(5 ILCS 140/10) (from Ch. 116, par. 210)

Sec. 10. (a) Any person denied access to inspect or copy any public record may appeal the denial by sending a written notice of appeal to the head of the public body. Upon receipt of such notice the head of the public body shall promptly review the public record, determine whether under the provisions of this Act such record is open to inspection and copying, and notify the person making the appeal of such determination within 7 working days after the notice of appeal. Each notice of denial of an appeal by the head of a public body shall inform the person of his or her right to judicial review within 60 days after the denial under Section 11.

(b) Any person making a request for public records shall be deemed to have exhausted his administrative remedies with respect to such request if the head of the public body affirms the denial or fails to act within the time limit provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 83-1013.)

(5 ILCS 140/11) (from Ch. 116, par. 211)

Sec. 11. (a) Any person denied access to inspect or copy any public record by the head of a public body may file suit for injunctive or declaratory relief. If the head of a public body has issued a written denial of appeal as provided in subsection (a) of Section 10, any suit for injunctive or declaratory relief must be filed within 60 days after the receipt of the denial of the appeal. For any written denial of appeal issued before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, suit for injunctive or declaratory relief must be filed within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

(b) Where the denial is from the head of a public body of the State, suit may be filed in the circuit court for the county where the public body has its principal office or where the person denied access resides.

(c) Where the denial is from the head of a municipality or other public body, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, suit may be filed in the circuit court for the county where the public body is located.

(d) The circuit court shall have the jurisdiction to enjoin the public body from withholding public records and to order the production of any public records improperly withheld from the person seeking access. If the public body can show that exceptional circumstances exist, and that the body is exercising due diligence in responding to the request, the court may retain jurisdiction and allow the agency additional time to complete its review of the records.

(e) On motion of the plaintiff, prior to or after in camera inspection, the court shall order the public body to provide an index of the records to which access has been denied. The index shall include the following:

(i) A description of the nature or contents of each document withheld, or each deletion from a released document, provided, however, that the public body shall not be required to disclose the information which it asserts is exempt; and

(ii) A statement of the exemption or exemptions claimed for each such deletion or withheld document.

(f) In any action considered by the court, the court shall consider the matter de novo, and shall conduct such in camera examination of the requested records as it finds appropriate to determine if such records or any part thereof may be withheld under any provision of this Act. The burden shall be on the public body to establish that its refusal to permit public inspection or copying is in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(g) In the event of noncompliance with an order of the court to disclose, the court may enforce its order against any public official or employee so ordered or primarily responsible for such noncompliance through the court's contempt powers.

(h) Except as to causes the court considers to be of greater importance, proceedings arising under this Section shall take precedence on the docket over all other causes and be assigned for hearing and trial at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.

(i) If a person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record substantially prevails in a proceeding under this Section, the court may award such person reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. If, however, the court finds that the fundamental purpose of the request was to further the commercial interests of the requestor, the court may award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs if the court finds that the record or records in question were of clearly significant interest to the general public and that the public body lacked any reasonable basis in law for withholding the record.

(Source: P.A. 93-466, eff. 1-1-04.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.