A "Tie" to Politics

Institute updates FOIA guidebook to reflect changes

By Barton Lorimor, Institute staff, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute

On behalf of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, I am pleased to offer the latest edition of our guidebook to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

The new edition includes amendments to Chapter Four, which outlines exemptions to FOIA requests. It also updates the section of Chapter One that outlines changes proposed during the spring 2011 session of the Illinois General Assembly.

Please click here to be redirected to the Web page where the revised guidebook can be downloaded free of charge.

Please notice the legislation that passed the House and Senate identified in Chapter One as it may have a great impact on how individuals receive the information they seek. The Institute will be tracking these bills and make adjustments to this guidebook if necessary.

This ongoing project is the result of efforts put in by a number of people here at the Institute and former Illinois statehouse reporter Adriana Colindres. Our continued thanks to them as well as the Office of the Illinois Attorney General for keeping this guide updated. We also extend our thanks to the Illinois Press Association in their efforts to make this guidebook more available to the public and members of the media.

When it was first proposed, the goal of this guidebook was to help journalists and the general public understand the state’s new FOIA law. It not only meets that goal but also serves as a record of how the laws have changed since its implementation in January 2010. In some instances, information that was once available to the public through FOIA is now restricted.

Because this is an ongoing project, we hope anyone with suggestions on how we can better the guidebook or its distribution would contact the Institute at: 618-453-4009.

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