Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Requires a person who requests to inspect or copy public records for a commercial purpose to provide a statement setting forth the commercial purpose. Provides that, within 21 days after being furnished such a statement, the public body must notify the requester of the estimated time required to provide the records requested and the estimated fees to be charged. Authorizes public bodies to charge a fee for the cost of materials, equipment, and personnel used to copy or produce a record in response to a request made for a commercial purpose. Also authorizes a public body to require a person making such a request to pay all charges before the requested documents are copied. Authorizes the collection of damages if a person (i) knowingly obtains a public record for a commercial purpose without indicating the commercial purpose; (ii) knowingly obtains a public record for a noncommercial purpose and knowingly uses or knowingly allows the use of the public record for a commercial purpose; or (iii) knowingly obtains a public record from anyone other than the public body and uses it for a commercial purpose. Provides that when a person requests a copy of a record maintained in an electronic format, the public body shall furnish it in an electronic format. Specifies that if it is not feasible to furnish the records in an electronic format, then the public body shall furnish it in a paper format. Authorizes a public body to make its records available through a publicly accessible electronic means and to respond to a request by notifying the requester that the record is available through publicly accessible electronic means. Authorizes a fee to be charged for the first 50 pages of copies requested by a requester and for paper used to create an electronic record. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Election Code. Requires that each election authority (i) conduct an election day audit of a random sample of 10% of votes cast and (ii) provide by contract or employment for the performance by one or more independent auditors of post-election parallel tabulations and audits. Provides for the scope of the audits and the resulting reports. Requires that optical scan technology and direct recording electronic voting systems meet certain federal and independent testing standards. With respect to early voting, requires that an election authority using only direct recording electronic voting systems have paper ballots available for voters wishing to use them.
Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that any 2 or more school districts that share the same boundaries may combine transportation activities to achieve savings to these school districts as well as this State. Provides that for any school districts electing to combine such transportation, the State Board of Education shall reimburse the school districts in an amount in addition to any other transportation reimbursement or other moneys owed to the school districts. Sets forth provisions concerning calculating the reimbursement, dividing the reimbursement, entering into contracts, and applying for reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2013.
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "overseer of military veterans assistance".
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the State Board of Education.
Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall charge the employing State agency for workers' compensation payments for medical expenses and temporary total disability benefits (now, just for temporary total disability) paid to any employee (now, the Department shall charge the State agency only after the employee has received temporary total disability payments for 120 days if the employee's physician has issued a release to return to work but the employing State agency does not return the employee to work).
Creates the Illinois Clean Elections Act. Establishes a voluntary method of public financing of the campaigns of candidates for statewide constitutional offices and the General Assembly. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Clean Elections Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to create an individual tax return checkoff in support of the Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning port districts.
Urges the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop a basic protocol which will provide direction on how best to make available such medications to veterans suffering from PTSD and other forms of severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, schizophrenia disorder, and bipolar disorders. Calls for a subcommittee within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to monitor the preparation of the protocol.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.