Bill > HB2885

This bill amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to expand liability protection for public bodies and their employees when disclosing records. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 9.5 of the existing law to clarify that not only public bodies, but also individual officers and employees of public bodies, are immune from legal liabilities when they disclose records in accordance with an opinion issued by the Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. This provision means that if a public body or its staff release documents following a formal opinion from the Attorney General about the appropriateness of disclosure, they cannot be sued or penalized for that disclosure. The bill provides additional protection for government employees who might otherwise be hesitant to release public records due to potential personal legal risks. The change reinforces the Act's goal of promoting transparency by reducing potential personal legal barriers to information disclosure while ensuring that such disclosures are guided by official legal interpretations.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2885&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104