Bill Text: IL HB4292 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, "public body" includes the judicial branch and components of the judicial branch of the State. Exempts records that pertain to the preparation of judicial opinions and orders. Excludes denials of requests of records from the judicial branch or components of the judicial branch from the jurisdiction of the Public Access Counselor.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4292 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB4292-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4292 Introduced , by Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5 ILCS 140/2 from Ch. 116, par. 202
5 ILCS 140/7
5 ILCS 140/9.5
Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, for purposes of the Act, "public body" includes the judicial branch and components of the judicial branch of the State. Exempts records that pertain to the preparation of judicial opinions and orders. Excludes denials of requests of records from the judicial branch or components of the judicial branch from the jurisdiction of the Public Access Counselor.
LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
A BILL FOR
HB4292 LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
AN ACT concerning government.
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 2, 7, and 9.5 as follows:
(5 ILCS 140/2) (from Ch. 116, par. 202)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-554)
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act:
(a) "Public body" means all legislative, executive,
administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state
universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities,
villages, incorporated towns, school districts and all other
municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees, or
commissions of this State, any subsidiary bodies of any of the
foregoing including but not limited to committees and
subcommittees thereof, and a School Finance Authority created
under Article 1E of the School Code. "Public body" does not
include a child death review team or the Illinois Child Death
Review Teams Executive Council established under the Child
Death Review Team Act, or a regional youth advisory board or
the Statewide Youth Advisory Board established under the
Department of Children and Family Services Statewide Youth
Advisory Board Act.

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(b) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, firm, organization or association, acting
individually or as a group.
(c) "Public records" means all records, reports, forms,
writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps,
photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic
data processing records, electronic communications, recorded
information and all other documentary materials pertaining to
the transaction of public business, regardless of physical
form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or
having been or being used by, received by, in the possession
of, or under the control of any public body.
(c-5) "Private information" means unique identifiers,
including a person's social security number, driver's license
number, employee identification number, biometric identifiers,
personal financial information, passwords or other access
codes, medical records, home or personal telephone numbers,
and personal email addresses. Private information also
includes home address and personal license plates, except as
otherwise provided by law or when compiled without possibility
of attribution to any person.
(c-10) "Commercial purpose" means the use of any part of a
public record or records, or information derived from public
records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or
advertisement for sales or services. For purposes of this
definition, requests made by news media and non-profit,

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scientific, or academic organizations shall not be considered
to be made for a "commercial purpose" when the principal
purpose of the request is (i) to access and disseminate
information concerning news and current or passing events,
(ii) for articles of opinion or features of interest to the
public, or (iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or
public research or education.
(d) "Copying" means the reproduction of any public record
by means of any photographic, electronic, mechanical or other
process, device or means now known or hereafter developed and
available to the public body.
(e) "Head of the public body" means the president, mayor,
chairman, presiding officer, director, superintendent,
manager, supervisor or individual otherwise holding primary
executive and administrative authority for the public body, or
such person's duly authorized designee.
(f) "News media" means a newspaper or other periodical
issued at regular intervals whether in print or electronic
format, a news service whether in print or electronic format,
a radio station, a television station, a television network, a
community antenna television service, or a person or
corporation engaged in making news reels or other motion
picture news for public showing.
(g) "Recurrent requester", as used in Section 3.2 of this
Act, means a person that, in the 12 months immediately
preceding the request, has submitted to the same public body

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(i) a minimum of 50 requests for records, (ii) a minimum of 15
requests for records within a 30-day period, or (iii) a
minimum of 7 requests for records within a 7-day period. For
purposes of this definition, requests made by news media and
non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations shall not be
considered in calculating the number of requests made in the
time periods in this definition when the principal purpose of
the requests is (i) to access and disseminate information
concerning news and current or passing events, (ii) for
articles of opinion or features of interest to the public, or
(iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public
research or education.
For the purposes of this subsection (g), "request" means a
written document (or oral request, if the public body chooses
to honor oral requests) that is submitted to a public body via
personal delivery, mail, telefax, electronic mail, or other
means available to the public body and that identifies the
particular public record the requester seeks. One request may
identify multiple records to be inspected or copied.
(h) "Voluminous request" means a request that: (i)
includes more than 5 individual requests for more than 5
different categories of records or a combination of individual
requests that total requests for more than 5 different
categories of records in a period of 20 business days; or (ii)
requires the compilation of more than 500 letter or
legal-sized pages of public records unless a single requested

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record exceeds 500 pages. "Single requested record" may
include, but is not limited to, one report, form, e-mail,
letter, memorandum, book, map, microfilm, tape, or recording.
"Voluminous request" does not include a request made by
news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic
organizations if the principal purpose of the request is: (1)
to access and disseminate information concerning news and
current or passing events; (2) for articles of opinion or
features of interest to the public; or (3) for the purpose of
academic, scientific, or public research or education.
For the purposes of this subsection (h), "request" means a
written document, or oral request, if the public body chooses
to honor oral requests, that is submitted to a public body via
personal delivery, mail, telefax, electronic mail, or other
means available to the public body and that identifies the
particular public record or records the requester seeks. One
request may identify multiple individual records to be
inspected or copied.
(i) "Severance agreement" means a mutual agreement between
any public body and its employee for the employee's
resignation in exchange for payment by the public body.
(Source: P.A. 98-806, eff. 1-1-15; 98-1129, eff. 12-3-14;
99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-478, eff. 6-1-16.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-554)
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act:

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(a) "Public body" means all legislative, executive,
judicial branch, components of the judicial branch,
administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state
universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities,
villages, incorporated towns, school districts and all other
municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees, or
commissions of this State, any subsidiary bodies of any of the
foregoing including but not limited to committees and
subcommittees thereof, and a School Finance Authority created
under Article 1E of the School Code. "Public body" does not
include a child death review team or the Illinois Child Death
Review Teams Executive Council established under the Child
Death Review Team Act, or a regional youth advisory board or
the Statewide Youth Advisory Board established under the
Department of Children and Family Services Statewide Youth
Advisory Board Act.
(b) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, firm, organization or association, acting
individually or as a group.
(c) "Public records" means all records, reports, forms,
writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps,
photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic
data processing records, electronic communications, recorded
information and all other documentary materials pertaining to
the transaction of public business, regardless of physical
form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or

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having been or being used by, received by, in the possession
of, or under the control of any public body.
(c-5) "Private information" means unique identifiers,
including a person's social security number, driver's license
number, employee identification number, biometric identifiers,
personal financial information, passwords or other access
codes, medical records, home or personal telephone numbers,
and personal email addresses. Private information also
includes home address and personal license plates, except as
otherwise provided by law or when compiled without possibility
of attribution to any person. For a public body that is a
HIPAA-covered entity, "private information" includes
electronic medical records and all information, including
demographic information, contained within or extracted from an
electronic medical records system operated or maintained by
the public body in compliance with State and federal medical
privacy laws and regulations, including, but not limited to,
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and
its regulations, 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164. As used in this
subsection, "HIPAA-covered entity" has the meaning given to
the term "covered entity" in 45 CFR 160.103.
(c-10) "Commercial purpose" means the use of any part of a
public record or records, or information derived from public
records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or
advertisement for sales or services. For purposes of this
definition, requests made by news media and non-profit,

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scientific, or academic organizations shall not be considered
to be made for a "commercial purpose" when the principal
purpose of the request is (i) to access and disseminate
information concerning news and current or passing events,
(ii) for articles of opinion or features of interest to the
public, or (iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or
public research or education.
(d) "Copying" means the reproduction of any public record
by means of any photographic, electronic, mechanical or other
process, device or means now known or hereafter developed and
available to the public body.
(e) "Head of the public body" means the president, mayor,
chairman, presiding officer, director, superintendent,
manager, supervisor or individual otherwise holding primary
executive and administrative authority for the public body, or
such person's duly authorized designee.
(f) "News media" means a newspaper or other periodical
issued at regular intervals whether in print or electronic
format, a news service whether in print or electronic format,
a radio station, a television station, a television network, a
community antenna television service, or a person or
corporation engaged in making news reels or other motion
picture news for public showing.
(g) "Recurrent requester", as used in Section 3.2 of this
Act, means a person that, in the 12 months immediately
preceding the request, has submitted to the same public body

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(i) a minimum of 50 requests for records, (ii) a minimum of 15
requests for records within a 30-day period, or (iii) a
minimum of 7 requests for records within a 7-day period. For
purposes of this definition, requests made by news media and
non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations shall not be
considered in calculating the number of requests made in the
time periods in this definition when the principal purpose of
the requests is (i) to access and disseminate information
concerning news and current or passing events, (ii) for
articles of opinion or features of interest to the public, or
(iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public
research or education.
For the purposes of this subsection (g), "request" means a
written document (or oral request, if the public body chooses
to honor oral requests) that is submitted to a public body via
personal delivery, mail, telefax, electronic mail, or other
means available to the public body and that identifies the
particular public record the requester seeks. One request may
identify multiple records to be inspected or copied.
(h) "Voluminous request" means a request that: (i)
includes more than 5 individual requests for more than 5
different categories of records or a combination of individual
requests that total requests for more than 5 different
categories of records in a period of 20 business days; or (ii)
requires the compilation of more than 500 letter or
legal-sized pages of public records unless a single requested

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record exceeds 500 pages. "Single requested record" may
include, but is not limited to, one report, form, e-mail,
letter, memorandum, book, map, microfilm, tape, or recording.
"Voluminous request" does not include a request made by
news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic
organizations if the principal purpose of the request is: (1)
to access and disseminate information concerning news and
current or passing events; (2) for articles of opinion or
features of interest to the public; or (3) for the purpose of
academic, scientific, or public research or education.
For the purposes of this subsection (h), "request" means a
written document, or oral request, if the public body chooses
to honor oral requests, that is submitted to a public body via
personal delivery, mail, telefax, electronic mail, or other
means available to the public body and that identifies the
particular public record or records the requester seeks. One
request may identify multiple individual records to be
inspected or copied.
(i) "Severance agreement" means a mutual agreement between
any public body and its employee for the employee's
resignation in exchange for payment by the public body.
(Source: P.A. 103-554, eff. 1-1-24.)
(5 ILCS 140/7)
Sec. 7. Exemptions.
(1) When a request is made to inspect or copy a public

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record that contains information that is exempt from
disclosure under this Section, but also contains information
that is not exempt from disclosure, the public body may elect
to redact the information that is exempt. The public body
shall make the remaining information available for inspection
and copying. Subject to this requirement, the following shall
be exempt from inspection and copying:
(a) Information specifically prohibited from
disclosure by federal or State law or rules and
regulations implementing federal or State law.
(b) Private information, unless disclosure is required
by another provision of this Act, a State or federal law,
or a court order.
(b-5) Files, documents, and other data or databases
maintained by one or more law enforcement agencies and
specifically designed to provide information to one or
more law enforcement agencies regarding the physical or
mental status of one or more individual subjects.
(c) Personal information contained within public
records, the disclosure of which would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, unless
the disclosure is consented to in writing by the
individual subjects of the information. "Unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy" means the disclosure of
information that is highly personal or objectionable to a
reasonable person and in which the subject's right to

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privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in
obtaining the information. The disclosure of information
that bears on the public duties of public employees and
officials shall not be considered an invasion of personal
privacy.
(d) Records in the possession of any public body
created in the course of administrative enforcement
proceedings, and any law enforcement or correctional
agency for law enforcement purposes, but only to the
extent that disclosure would:
(i) interfere with pending or actually and
reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings
conducted by any law enforcement or correctional
agency that is the recipient of the request;
(ii) interfere with active administrative
enforcement proceedings conducted by the public body
that is the recipient of the request;
(iii) create a substantial likelihood that a
person will be deprived of a fair trial or an impartial
hearing;
(iv) unavoidably disclose the identity of a
confidential source, confidential information
furnished only by the confidential source, or persons
who file complaints with or provide information to
administrative, investigative, law enforcement, or
penal agencies; except that the identities of

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witnesses to traffic crashes, traffic crash reports,
and rescue reports shall be provided by agencies of
local government, except when disclosure would
interfere with an active criminal investigation
conducted by the agency that is the recipient of the
request;
(v) disclose unique or specialized investigative
techniques other than those generally used and known
or disclose internal documents of correctional
agencies related to detection, observation, or
investigation of incidents of crime or misconduct, and
disclosure would result in demonstrable harm to the
agency or public body that is the recipient of the
request;
(vi) endanger the life or physical safety of law
enforcement personnel or any other person; or
(vii) obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation
by the agency that is the recipient of the request.
(d-5) A law enforcement record created for law
enforcement purposes and contained in a shared electronic
record management system if the law enforcement agency
that is the recipient of the request did not create the
record, did not participate in or have a role in any of the
events which are the subject of the record, and only has
access to the record through the shared electronic record
management system.

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(d-6) Records contained in the Officer Professional
Conduct Database under Section 9.2 of the Illinois Police
Training Act, except to the extent authorized under that
Section. This includes the documents supplied to the
Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board from the
Illinois State Police and Illinois State Police Merit
Board.
(d-7) Information gathered or records created from the
use of automatic license plate readers in connection with
Section 2-130 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(e) Records that relate to or affect the security of
correctional institutions and detention facilities.
(e-5) Records requested by persons committed to the
Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health, or a county jail if those
materials are available in the library of the correctional
institution or facility or jail where the inmate is
confined.
(e-6) Records requested by persons committed to the
Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health, or a county jail if those
materials include records from staff members' personnel
files, staff rosters, or other staffing assignment
information.
(e-7) Records requested by persons committed to the
Department of Corrections or Department of Human Services

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Division of Mental Health if those materials are available
through an administrative request to the Department of
Corrections or Department of Human Services Division of
Mental Health.
(e-8) Records requested by a person committed to the
Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health, or a county jail, the
disclosure of which would result in the risk of harm to any
person or the risk of an escape from a jail or correctional
institution or facility.
(e-9) Records requested by a person in a county jail
or committed to the Department of Corrections or
Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health,
containing personal information pertaining to the person's
victim or the victim's family, including, but not limited
to, a victim's home address, home telephone number, work
or school address, work telephone number, social security
number, or any other identifying information, except as
may be relevant to a requester's current or potential case
or claim.
(e-10) Law enforcement records of other persons
requested by a person committed to the Department of
Corrections, Department of Human Services Division of
Mental Health, or a county jail, including, but not
limited to, arrest and booking records, mug shots, and
crime scene photographs, except as these records may be

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relevant to the requester's current or potential case or
claim.
(f) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations,
memoranda, and other records in which opinions are
expressed, or policies or actions are formulated, except
that a specific record or relevant portion of a record
shall not be exempt when the record is publicly cited and
identified by the head of the public body. The exemption
provided in this paragraph (f) extends to all those
records of officers and agencies of the General Assembly
that pertain to the preparation of legislative documents
and to all those records that pertain to the preparation
of judicial opinions and orders.
(g) Trade secrets and commercial or financial
information obtained from a person or business where the
trade secrets or commercial or financial information are
furnished under a claim that they are proprietary,
privileged, or confidential, and that disclosure of the
trade secrets or commercial or financial information would
cause competitive harm to the person or business, and only
insofar as the claim directly applies to the records
requested.
The information included under this exemption includes
all trade secrets and commercial or financial information
obtained by a public body, including a public pension
fund, from a private equity fund or a privately held

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company within the investment portfolio of a private
equity fund as a result of either investing or evaluating
a potential investment of public funds in a private equity
fund. The exemption contained in this item does not apply
to the aggregate financial performance information of a
private equity fund, nor to the identity of the fund's
managers or general partners. The exemption contained in
this item does not apply to the identity of a privately
held company within the investment portfolio of a private
equity fund, unless the disclosure of the identity of a
privately held company may cause competitive harm.
Nothing contained in this paragraph (g) shall be
construed to prevent a person or business from consenting
to disclosure.
(h) Proposals and bids for any contract, grant, or
agreement, including information which if it were
disclosed would frustrate procurement or give an advantage
to any person proposing to enter into a contractor
agreement with the body, until an award or final selection
is made. Information prepared by or for the body in
preparation of a bid solicitation shall be exempt until an
award or final selection is made.
(i) Valuable formulae, computer geographic systems,
designs, drawings, and research data obtained or produced
by any public body when disclosure could reasonably be
expected to produce private gain or public loss. The

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exemption for "computer geographic systems" provided in
this paragraph (i) does not extend to requests made by
news media as defined in Section 2 of this Act when the
requested information is not otherwise exempt and the only
purpose of the request is to access and disseminate
information regarding the health, safety, welfare, or
legal rights of the general public.
(j) The following information pertaining to
educational matters:
(i) test questions, scoring keys, and other
examination data used to administer an academic
examination;
(ii) information received by a primary or
secondary school, college, or university under its
procedures for the evaluation of faculty members by
their academic peers;
(iii) information concerning a school or
university's adjudication of student disciplinary
cases, but only to the extent that disclosure would
unavoidably reveal the identity of the student; and
(iv) course materials or research materials used
by faculty members.
(k) Architects' plans, engineers' technical
submissions, and other construction related technical
documents for projects not constructed or developed in
whole or in part with public funds and the same for

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projects constructed or developed with public funds,
including, but not limited to, power generating and
distribution stations and other transmission and
distribution facilities, water treatment facilities,
airport facilities, sport stadiums, convention centers,
and all government owned, operated, or occupied buildings,
but only to the extent that disclosure would compromise
security.
(l) Minutes of meetings of public bodies closed to the
public as provided in the Open Meetings Act until the
public body makes the minutes available to the public
under Section 2.06 of the Open Meetings Act.
(m) Communications between a public body and an
attorney or auditor representing the public body that
would not be subject to discovery in litigation, and
materials prepared or compiled by or for a public body in
anticipation of a criminal, civil, or administrative
proceeding upon the request of an attorney advising the
public body, and materials prepared or compiled with
respect to internal audits of public bodies.
(n) Records relating to a public body's adjudication
of employee grievances or disciplinary cases; however,
this exemption shall not extend to the final outcome of
cases in which discipline is imposed.
(o) Administrative or technical information associated
with automated data processing operations, including, but

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not limited to, software, operating protocols, computer
program abstracts, file layouts, source listings, object
modules, load modules, user guides, documentation
pertaining to all logical and physical design of
computerized systems, employee manuals, and any other
information that, if disclosed, would jeopardize the
security of the system or its data or the security of
materials exempt under this Section.
(p) Records relating to collective negotiating matters
between public bodies and their employees or
representatives, except that any final contract or
agreement shall be subject to inspection and copying.
(q) Test questions, scoring keys, and other
examination data used to determine the qualifications of
an applicant for a license or employment.
(r) The records, documents, and information relating
to real estate purchase negotiations until those
negotiations have been completed or otherwise terminated.
With regard to a parcel involved in a pending or actually
and reasonably contemplated eminent domain proceeding
under the Eminent Domain Act, records, documents, and
information relating to that parcel shall be exempt except
as may be allowed under discovery rules adopted by the
Illinois Supreme Court. The records, documents, and
information relating to a real estate sale shall be exempt
until a sale is consummated.

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(s) Any and all proprietary information and records
related to the operation of an intergovernmental risk
management association or self-insurance pool or jointly
self-administered health and accident cooperative or pool.
Insurance or self-insurance (including any
intergovernmental risk management association or
self-insurance pool) claims, loss or risk management
information, records, data, advice, or communications.
(t) Information contained in or related to
examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by,
on behalf of, or for the use of a public body responsible
for the regulation or supervision of financial
institutions, insurance companies, or pharmacy benefit
managers, unless disclosure is otherwise required by State
law.
(u) Information that would disclose or might lead to
the disclosure of secret or confidential information,
codes, algorithms, programs, or private keys intended to
be used to create electronic signatures under the Uniform
Electronic Transactions Act.
(v) Vulnerability assessments, security measures, and
response policies or plans that are designed to identify,
prevent, or respond to potential attacks upon a
community's population or systems, facilities, or
installations, but only to the extent that disclosure
could reasonably be expected to expose the vulnerability

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or jeopardize the effectiveness of the measures, policies,
or plans, or the safety of the personnel who implement
them or the public. Information exempt under this item may
include such things as details pertaining to the
mobilization or deployment of personnel or equipment, to
the operation of communication systems or protocols, to
cybersecurity vulnerabilities, or to tactical operations.
(w) (Blank).
(x) Maps and other records regarding the location or
security of generation, transmission, distribution,
storage, gathering, treatment, or switching facilities
owned by a utility, by a power generator, or by the
Illinois Power Agency.
(y) Information contained in or related to proposals,
bids, or negotiations related to electric power
procurement under Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power
Agency Act and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
Act that is determined to be confidential and proprietary
by the Illinois Power Agency or by the Illinois Commerce
Commission.
(z) Information about students exempted from
disclosure under Section 10-20.38 or 34-18.29 of the
School Code, and information about undergraduate students
enrolled at an institution of higher education exempted
from disclosure under Section 25 of the Illinois Credit
Card Marketing Act of 2009.

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(aa) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
under the Viatical Settlements Act of 2009.
(bb) Records and information provided to a mortality
review team and records maintained by a mortality review
team appointed under the Department of Juvenile Justice
Mortality Review Team Act.
(cc) Information regarding interments, entombments, or
inurnments of human remains that are submitted to the
Cemetery Oversight Database under the Cemetery Care Act or
the Cemetery Oversight Act, whichever is applicable.
(dd) Correspondence and records (i) that may not be
disclosed under Section 11-9 of the Illinois Public Aid
Code or (ii) that pertain to appeals under Section 11-8 of
the Illinois Public Aid Code.
(ee) The names, addresses, or other personal
information of persons who are minors and are also
participants and registrants in programs of park
districts, forest preserve districts, conservation
districts, recreation agencies, and special recreation
associations.
(ff) The names, addresses, or other personal
information of participants and registrants in programs of
park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation
districts, recreation agencies, and special recreation
associations where such programs are targeted primarily to
minors.

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(gg) Confidential information described in Section
1-100 of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal Act of
2012.
(hh) The report submitted to the State Board of
Education by the School Security and Standards Task Force
under item (8) of subsection (d) of Section 2-3.160 of the
School Code and any information contained in that report.
(ii) Records requested by persons committed to or
detained by the Department of Human Services under the
Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act or committed to
the Department of Corrections under the Sexually Dangerous
Persons Act if those materials: (i) are available in the
library of the facility where the individual is confined;
(ii) include records from staff members' personnel files,
staff rosters, or other staffing assignment information;
or (iii) are available through an administrative request
to the Department of Human Services or the Department of
Corrections.
(jj) Confidential information described in Section
5-535 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
(kk) The public body's credit card numbers, debit card
numbers, bank account numbers, Federal Employer
Identification Number, security code numbers, passwords,
and similar account information, the disclosure of which
could result in identity theft or impression or defrauding
of a governmental entity or a person.

HB4292 - 25 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
(ll) Records concerning the work of the threat
assessment team of a school district, including, but not
limited to, any threat assessment procedure under the
School Safety Drill Act and any information contained in
the procedure.
(mm) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 15 of the Student
Confidential Reporting Act.
(nn) Proprietary information submitted to the
Environmental Protection Agency under the Drug Take-Back
Act.
(oo) Records described in subsection (f) of Section
3-5-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
(pp) Any and all information regarding burials,
interments, or entombments of human remains as required to
be reported to the Department of Natural Resources
pursuant either to the Archaeological and Paleontological
Resources Protection Act or the Human Remains Protection
Act.
(qq) (pp) Reports described in subsection (e) of
Section 16-15 of the Abortion Care Clinical Training
Program Act.
(rr) (pp) Information obtained by a certified local
health department under the Access to Public Health Data
Act.
(ss) (pp) For a request directed to a public body that

HB4292 - 26 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
is also a HIPAA-covered entity, all information that is
protected health information, including demographic
information, that may be contained within or extracted
from any record held by the public body in compliance with
State and federal medical privacy laws and regulations,
including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act and its regulations, 45
CFR Parts 160 and 164. As used in this paragraph,
"HIPAA-covered entity" has the meaning given to the term
"covered entity" in 45 CFR 160.103 and "protected health
information" has the meaning given to that term in 45 CFR
160.103.
(1.5) Any information exempt from disclosure under the
Judicial Privacy Act shall be redacted from public records
prior to disclosure under this Act.
(2) A public record that is not in the possession of a
public body but is in the possession of a party with whom the
agency has contracted to perform a governmental function on
behalf of the public body, and that directly relates to the
governmental function and is not otherwise exempt under this
Act, shall be considered a public record of the public body,
for purposes of this Act.
(3) This Section does not authorize withholding of
information or limit the availability of records to the
public, except as stated in this Section or otherwise provided
in this Act.

HB4292 - 27 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
(Source: P.A. 102-38, eff. 6-25-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21;
102-694, eff. 1-7-22; 102-752, eff. 5-6-22; 102-753, eff.
1-1-23; 102-776, eff. 1-1-23; 102-791, eff. 5-13-22; 102-982,
eff. 7-1-23; 102-1055, eff. 6-10-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
103-423, eff. 1-1-24; 103-446, eff. 8-4-23; 103-462, eff.
8-4-23; 103-540, eff. 1-1-24; 103-554, eff. 1-1-24; revised
9-7-23.)
(5 ILCS 140/9.5)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-69)
Sec. 9.5. Public Access Counselor; opinions.
(a) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record is denied by a public body, except the General Assembly
and committees, commissions, and agencies thereof, may file a
request for review with the Public Access Counselor
established in the Office of the Attorney General not later
than 60 days after the date of the final denial. The request
for review must be in writing, signed by the requester, and
include (i) a copy of the request for access to records and
(ii) any responses from the public body.
(b) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record is made for a commercial purpose as defined in
subsection (c-10) of Section 2 of this Act may not file a
request for review with the Public Access Counselor. A person
whose request to inspect or copy a public record was treated by
the public body as a request for a commercial purpose under

HB4292 - 28 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
Section 3.1 of this Act may file a request for review with the
Public Access Counselor for the limited purpose of reviewing
whether the public body properly determined that the request
was made for a commercial purpose.
(b-5) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record was treated by a public body, except the General
Assembly and committees, commissions, and agencies thereof, as
a voluminous request under Section 3.6 of this Act may file a
request for review with the Public Access Counselor for the
purpose of reviewing whether the public body properly
determined that the request was a voluminous request.
(c) Upon receipt of a request for review, the Public
Access Counselor shall determine whether further action is
warranted. If the Public Access Counselor determines that the
alleged violation is unfounded, he or she shall so advise the
requester and the public body and no further action shall be
undertaken. In all other cases, the Public Access Counselor
shall forward a copy of the request for review to the public
body within 7 business days after receipt and shall specify
the records or other documents that the public body shall
furnish to facilitate the review. Within 7 business days after
receipt of the request for review, the public body shall
provide copies of records requested and shall otherwise fully
cooperate with the Public Access Counselor. If a public body
fails to furnish specified records pursuant to this Section,
or if otherwise necessary, the Attorney General may issue a

HB4292 - 29 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
subpoena to any person or public body having knowledge of or
records pertaining to a request for review of a denial of
access to records under the Act. To the extent that records or
documents produced by a public body contain information that
is claimed to be exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of this
Act, the Public Access Counselor shall not further disclose
that information.
(d) Within 7 business days after it receives a copy of a
request for review and request for production of records from
the Public Access Counselor, the public body may, but is not
required to, answer the allegations of the request for review.
The answer may take the form of a letter, brief, or memorandum.
The Public Access Counselor shall forward a copy of the answer
to the person submitting the request for review, with any
alleged confidential information to which the request pertains
redacted from the copy. The requester may, but is not required
to, respond in writing to the answer within 7 business days and
shall provide a copy of the response to the public body.
(e) In addition to the request for review, and the answer
and the response thereto, if any, a requester or a public body
may furnish affidavits or records concerning any matter
germane to the review.
(f) Unless the Public Access Counselor extends the time by
no more than 30 business days by sending written notice to the
requester and the public body that includes a statement of the
reasons for the extension in the notice, or decides to address

HB4292 - 30 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
the matter without the issuance of a binding opinion, the
Attorney General shall examine the issues and the records,
shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall
issue to the requester and the public body an opinion in
response to the request for review within 60 days after its
receipt. The opinion shall be binding upon both the requester
and the public body, subject to administrative review under
Section 11.5.
In responding to any request under this Section 9.5, the
Attorney General may exercise his or her discretion and choose
to resolve a request for review by mediation or by a means
other than the issuance of a binding opinion. The decision not
to issue a binding opinion shall not be reviewable.
Upon receipt of a binding opinion concluding that a
violation of this Act has occurred, the public body shall
either take necessary action immediately to comply with the
directive of the opinion or shall initiate administrative
review under Section 11.5. If the opinion concludes that no
violation of the Act has occurred, the requester may initiate
administrative review under Section 11.5.
A public body that discloses records in accordance with an
opinion of the Attorney General is immune from all liabilities
by reason thereof and shall not be liable for penalties under
this Act.
(g) If the requester files suit under Section 11 with
respect to the same denial that is the subject of a pending

HB4292 - 31 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
request for review, the requester shall notify the Public
Access Counselor, and the Public Access Counselor shall take
no further action with respect to the request for review and
shall so notify the public body.
(h) The Attorney General may also issue advisory opinions
to public bodies regarding compliance with this Act. A review
may be initiated upon receipt of a written request from the
head of the public body or its attorney, which shall contain
sufficient accurate facts from which a determination can be
made. The Public Access Counselor may request additional
information from the public body in order to assist in the
review. A public body that relies in good faith on an advisory
opinion of the Attorney General in responding to a request is
not liable for penalties under this Act, so long as the facts
upon which the opinion is based have been fully and fairly
disclosed to the Public Access Counselor.
(Source: P.A. 97-579, eff. 8-26-11; 98-1129, eff. 12-3-14.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-69)
Sec. 9.5. Public Access Counselor; opinions.
(a) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record is denied by a public body, except the General Assembly
and committees, commissions, and agencies thereof and the
judicial branch and the components of the judicial branch, may
file a request for review with the Public Access Counselor
established in the Office of the Attorney General not later

HB4292 - 32 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
than 60 days after the date of the final denial. The request
for review must be in writing, signed by the requester, and
include (i) a copy of the request for access to records and
(ii) any responses from the public body.
(b) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record is made for a commercial purpose as defined in
subsection (c-10) of Section 2 of this Act may not file a
request for review with the Public Access Counselor. A person
whose request to inspect or copy a public record was treated by
the public body as a request for a commercial purpose under
Section 3.1 of this Act may file a request for review with the
Public Access Counselor for the limited purpose of reviewing
whether the public body properly determined that the request
was made for a commercial purpose.
(b-5) A person whose request to inspect or copy a public
record was treated by a public body, except the General
Assembly and committees, commissions, and agencies thereof and
the judicial branch and the components of the judicial branch,
as a voluminous request under Section 3.6 of this Act may file
a request for review with the Public Access Counselor for the
purpose of reviewing whether the public body properly
determined that the request was a voluminous request.
(c) Upon receipt of a request for review, the Public
Access Counselor shall determine whether further action is
warranted. If the Public Access Counselor determines that the
alleged violation is unfounded, he or she shall so advise the

HB4292 - 33 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
requester and the public body and no further action shall be
undertaken. In all other cases, the Public Access Counselor
shall forward a copy of the request for review to the public
body within 7 business days after receipt and shall specify
the records or other documents that the public body shall
furnish to facilitate the review. Within 7 business days after
receipt of the request for review, the public body shall
provide copies of records requested and shall otherwise fully
cooperate with the Public Access Counselor. If a public body
fails to furnish specified records pursuant to this Section,
or if otherwise necessary, the Attorney General may issue a
subpoena to any person or public body having knowledge of or
records pertaining to a request for review of a denial of
access to records under the Act. Records or documents obtained
by the Public Access Counselor from a public body for the
purpose of addressing a request for review under this Section
may not be disclosed to the public, including the requester,
by the Public Access Counselor. These records, while in the
possession of the Public Access Counselor, are exempt under
this Act from disclosure by the Public Access Counselor.
(d) Within 7 business days after it receives a copy of a
request for review and request for production of records from
the Public Access Counselor, the public body may, but is not
required to, answer the allegations of the request for review.
The answer may take the form of a letter, brief, or memorandum.
The Public Access Counselor shall forward a copy of the answer

HB4292 - 34 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
to the person submitting the request for review, with any
alleged confidential information to which the request pertains
redacted from the copy. The requester may, but is not required
to, respond in writing to the answer within 7 business days and
shall provide a copy of the response to the public body.
(e) In addition to the request for review, and the answer
and the response thereto, if any, a requester or a public body
may furnish affidavits or records concerning any matter
germane to the review.
(f) Unless the Public Access Counselor extends the time by
no more than 30 business days by sending written notice to the
requester and the public body that includes a statement of the
reasons for the extension in the notice, or decides to address
the matter without the issuance of a binding opinion, the
Attorney General shall examine the issues and the records,
shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law, and shall
issue to the requester and the public body an opinion in
response to the request for review within 60 days after its
receipt. The opinion shall be binding upon both the requester
and the public body, subject to administrative review under
Section 11.5.
In responding to any request under this Section 9.5, the
Attorney General may exercise his or her discretion and choose
to resolve a request for review by mediation or by a means
other than the issuance of a binding opinion. The decision not
to issue a binding opinion shall not be reviewable.

HB4292 - 35 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
Upon receipt of a binding opinion concluding that a
violation of this Act has occurred, the public body shall
either take necessary action immediately to comply with the
directive of the opinion or shall initiate administrative
review under Section 11.5. If the opinion concludes that no
violation of the Act has occurred, the requester may initiate
administrative review under Section 11.5.
A public body that discloses records in accordance with an
opinion of the Attorney General is immune from all liabilities
by reason thereof and shall not be liable for penalties under
this Act.
(g) If the requester files suit under Section 11 with
respect to the same denial that is the subject of a pending
request for review, the requester shall notify the Public
Access Counselor, and the Public Access Counselor shall take
no further action with respect to the request for review and
shall so notify the public body.
(h) The Attorney General may also issue advisory opinions
to public bodies regarding compliance with this Act. A review
may be initiated upon receipt of a written request from the
head of the public body or its attorney, which shall contain
sufficient accurate facts from which a determination can be
made. The Public Access Counselor may request additional
information from the public body in order to assist in the
review. A public body that relies in good faith on an advisory
opinion of the Attorney General in responding to a request is

HB4292 - 36 - LRB103 35053 AWJ 65001 b
not liable for penalties under this Act, so long as the facts
upon which the opinion is based have been fully and fairly
disclosed to the Public Access Counselor.
(Source: P.A. 103-69, eff. 1-1-24.)