Illinois transparency legislation

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This page covers legislation related to transparency in government proposed in Illinois.

2012

The Illinois House voted 71-45 to approve SB 1808, which would make it legal to record audio of police performing public duties in public space.

2011

Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed a law granting Illinois counties with populations between 300,000 and 2 million greater financial and budget oversight of boards and commissions. The legislation aimed to ensure the agencies and commissions would comply with county requests for contracts, finances, ethics policies, personnel information, and compliance.

2009

• House Bill 0035 would create the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal (ITAP). The website would allow taxpayers to search by agency, category, contract, or vendor for state expenditures and information on salaries of state employees.

• House Bill 1345 would amend the Illinois Freedom of Information Act to include settlement financial information that a public body might enter into. HB1345 was referred to the Rules Committee on February 18. It was signed into law on August 28, 2009.

• House Bill 1370 would make alterations to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. HB1370 was co-sponsored by Michael J. Madigan (D), Barbara Flynn Currie (D), Jim Watson (R), and Paul D. Froehlich (D). Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) also supported the bill.The bill would:
  • Clarify that access to public records improves government transparency.
  • Protect employees from retaliation from their superiors for releasing public information.
  • Permit attorney fees to be paid when access issues go to court.
  • Create a fine from $100 to $1,000 for government agencies found to have "willfully and intentionally" failed to comply with the law.
  • Shorten the required response time from seven days to five.
  • Make the first 25 pages of copies free, and set a fee of $0.15 per page for any copies after that.
  • Specify that records should be provided electronically if possible.

• Senate Bill 2270 was co-sponsored by Daniel Cronin (R), Kirk Dillard (R), Chris Lauzen (R), and John Millner (R) in the Senate. It was sponsored by Sandra M. Pihos (R), Patricia R. Bellock (R), Sandy Cole (R), Renée Kosel (R), Jack D. Franks (D), Keith Farnham (D), and Linda Chapa LaVia (D) in the House. The bill would require every school district to post on its website a “compensation report” for all administrative officials in the district, including salaries, benefits, pension contributions, and bonuses.

• House Bill 2235 was co-sponsored by Monique D. Davis (D), Jack D. Franks (D), Mike Boland (D), Harry R. Ramey, Jr. (R), Fred Crespo (D), and Elizabeth Coulson (R) in the House. It was sponsored by Kimberly Lightford (D) in the senate. The bill would require each school district, university, and community college governing board to report to the Illinois State Board of Education or Illinois Board of Higher Education the base salary and benefits of all administrators and teachers or faculty on or before July 1 of each year.

2008

• House Bill 824 would require "the Treasurer to post information on his or her official website concerning the investment of public funds."
• House Bill 4765 would require the Department of Central Management Services to establish an Accountability Portal website. The website would "provide direct access to information concerning State employees and individual consultants, State expenditures, State tax credits, and revocations and suspensions of occupation and use tax certificates of registration and professional licenses."