FOIA FAQ

Yes. However, this treatment only applies in limited situations: (1) the request must be categorical in nature and incapable of being narrowed or reduced; and (2) the burden on the public body to produce the information must outweigh the public interest in the information. Before denying a request as unduly burdensome, the public body must give the requester an opportunity to reduce the request to manageable proportions. I have received a request that does not fit the “unduly burdensome” standard, yet cannot reasonably be completed within the maximum 10 working days’ response period.

Does FOIA offer any options?

Yes. The Act allows the public body and the requestor to reach a written agreement to extend the time in which to respond to a request. I work for a public body that is being harassed by repeated FOIA requests from the same individual or entity. Does FOIA make any provisions for this? FOIA provides that repeated requests from the same person for the same records that are unchanged or identical to records previously provided or properly denied shall be deemed unduly burdensome and may be denied on that basis.

What information must a public body withhold or redact under the Freedom of Information Act?

Although there may be legitimate reasons to redact or withhold certain types of information, the only information that the Freedom of Information Act requires a public body to redact are the home addresses, home/private telephone numbers and social security numbers of employees noted on certified payroll records that are required to be submitted to a public body under the Prevailing Wage Act.

I am the designated FOIA officer for a public body. Will I be held personally liable for any civil penalties that a court may impose in a FOIA lawsuit?

No. Only the public body may be liable for civil penalties under FOIA. If a court finds that a public body willfully and intentionally failed to comply with the Act or otherwise acted in bad faith, the court shall impose a civil penalty upon the public body.

Does a requestor need to specifically and accurately describe the document he or she is looking for?

No. The requestor does not need to describe the document specifically and accurately by the same name the public body uses. As long as the public body understands what is being requested, it must release that information, even if the requested information is not called by the same name the public body uses.

What information is a public body required to make available?

Each FOIA officer for a public body must develop and make available upon request a list of documents that the public body will immediately provide to a requestor. In addition, each public body must maintain a reasonably current list of all types or categories of records under its control and this list should be reasonably detailed so that it aids people in obtaining access to public records. The public body must make this list available for inspection and copying.

Can the public body ask why the requestor wants the information?

No, except to determine if the request is for commercial reasons or to determine if a fee waiver applies. See below for more details on commercial requests.

FEES

Can the public body charge for copies?

Yes, but the charges are limited. For black and white, letter or legal sized copies (8 ½ x 11 or 11 x 17), the first 50 pages are free, and any additional pages can cost no more than 15 cents a page. For color copies or abnormal size copies, the public body can charge the actual cost of copying.

Can a public body charge for electronic copies?
Yes, but only for the actual cost of the recording medium. For example, if information is produced on CDs, the public body may only charge the actual cost of purchasing the CDs.

Is it possible for a public body to waive the copying fees?

Yes. Public bodies may waive or reduce copying fees at any time if disclosure is in the public interest. For example, a waiver or reduction may be available if:

1. The request is for information on the health, safety and welfare or the legal rights of the general public;
2. There is an intent to disseminate the information; or
3. No personal or commercial benefit will be received from document disclosure.

GETTING INFORMATION IN AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT

Can I request the documents in electronic form?

Yes, and the public body must provide the electronic documents in the requested format, if that is feasible for the public body. If that format is not available to the public body, it must provide the documents in the electronic format in which they are kept or in paper, at the option of the requestor.

If the public body has a database and the requested information requires that the ublic body do a search of that database, does the public body have to conduct that search?

Yes, and the public body cannot charge the requestor for that search.

Are e-mails subject to FOIA?

Yes. All electronic communications (as long as they do not fall within an exemption) are subject to FOIA.

CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH FOIA

What are the penalties for a public body for not complying with FOIA?

In addition to the potential that a court ultimately could impose a civil penalty of between $2,500 and $5,000 per FOIA violation, if a public body does not respond within the time limits provided, it cannot subsequently charge for reproduction costs or treat the request as unduly burdensome.

REQUESTOR’S OPTIONS IF THE PUBLIC BODY FAILS TO

RESPOND OR DENIES HIS/HER REQUEST

What happens if the public body doesn’t respond to a FOIA request?
If the public body does not respond to a request within 5 business days after receiving it, that inaction is considered a denial of the request. If that occurs, a requestor can either file a Request for Review with the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor or file a case in court.

What must the public body include in a denial?

The denial must be in writing and reference a specific legal reason under FOIA to justify the non-disclosure. A public body has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the information is exempt from disclosure. The denial also must inform the requestor of the right to seek review of the issue by the Public Access Counselor in the Attorney General’s office, with the PAC’s contact information, as well as the right to seek judicial review by filing a court case.

What can the requestor do if the public body denies the request for information?
The requestor can file a Request for Review with the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor within 60 calendar days from when the alleged violation occurred. Alternatively, the requestor may file a civil action in the circuit court within two years after the alleged violation took place.

What is a Request for Review to the Public Access Counselor?

A Request for Review is a letter that a requestor may submit to the PAC if he or she believes that the public body has not followed FOIA. This letter is a formal way of asking the PAC to take a look at the request and the public body’s response (or lack of a response) and determine if a FOIA violation has occurred. The request must be in writing, be signed by the requestor, and include a copy of the FOIA request and any responses from the public body. It must be submitted to the PAC within 60 calendar days of the public body’s final response (or the date upon which the response was due).

Is there a deadline for submitting a Request for Review?

Yes. The requestor must submit a Request for Review to the PAC within 60 calendar days after the date of the final denial from the public body (or the date upon which the response was due).

How do I contact the Public Access Counselor’s Office?
The Public Access Counselor is a part of the Public Access Bureau in the Attorney General’s Office. Here is the contact information:

Public Access Bureau
500 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
217-558-0486
publicaccess@atg.state.il.us

What happens if someone submits a Request for Review with the PAC and what are
the responsibilities of the public body?

The PAC will review all requests and will do one of three things:

1. Decide that no further action is necessary. If the PAC decides that the alleged violation is unfounded, the PAC will advise the requestor and the public body of that decision. At this point, the public body does need to take any further action.
2. Request more information from the public body. If more information is needed to review the issue, the PAC may, within 7 working days after receipt of the Request for Review, send a copy of the Request to the public body and ask for any records the PAC needs to complete the review. At this point, the public body must submit the requested information to the PAC within 7 working days. Please note that the Attorney General’s office has the authority to issue a subpoena for this information if the public body fails to respond fully to the PAC’s request.
3. The PAC may also try to resolve the FOIA dispute through mediation or other informal means. The public body should work with the PAC and the requestor to resolve the dispute.

What kind of information can the PAC request from the public body as part of the analysis of the Request for Review?

The PAC can request any information that is necessary to decide whether a FOIA violation has occurred. This includes obtaining copies of the information that the public body claims is exempt from FOIA disclosure. If the PAC obtains information or documents that are claimed to be exempt from disclosure, the PAC is prohibited from disclosing the information or documents.

When will the PAC issue a final decision?

If the PAC decides to issue a binding opinion, the PAC will issue that opinion within 60 calendar days after receiving all the information needed to decide the matter. The PAC may extend the 60-day time period by 21 working days by sending a written notice to the requestor and the public body. This written notice must include the reasons for the extension.

What are the different possible outcomes of a Request for Review by the PAC?

There are multiple ways the PAC may respond to a Request for Review:

1. Work to resolve the FOIA dispute with the public body and the requestor. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(f)) The PAC may choose to try to resolve the dispute through mediation or by means other than the issuance of a binding opinion. The PAC’s decision to decline to issue a binding opinion is not reviewable.
2. Review the issues in the FOIA dispute and determine that no further action is necessary. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(c)) If the PAC decides that the alleged violations of FOIA are unfounded, the PAC will advise the requestor and the public body of that decision. The PAC will not conduct any further review.
3. Issue a binding opinion. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(f)) After obtaining and reviewing any information needed to analyze the FOIA dispute between the requestor and the public body and any additional information that the requestor or the public body chose to provide, the PAC may issue a binding opinion. If the opinion orders the public body to produce records, the public body may appeal the opinion to the circuit court. If the public body does not appeal the opinion and fails to disclose the records as ordered by the opinion, the Attorney General’s office may sue the public body to enforce the opinion. If the opinion concludes that the records fall within a FOIA exemption and need not be disclosed, the requestor may appeal the opinion to the circuit court.

Can a public body ask the Attorney General’s PAC for advice regarding compliance with FOIA?

Yes. A public body can ask the Attorney General’s PAC to issue an advisory opinion regarding compliance with FOIA. (5 ILCS 140/9.5(h))

For example, if a public body expects to receive FOIA requests for a certain record or category of records that it maintains and is not certain if those records must be disclosed under FOIA, the public body can ask the PAC for an advisory opinion regarding whether the record(s) must be disclosed under FOIA or fall under a FOIA exemption. The Attorney General’s PAC is not required by law to issue an advisory opinion in response to a request. To ask for an advisory opinion from the Attorney General’s PAC, the head of the public body or its attorney must send a written request to the PAC. The request must contain sufficient accurate facts for the PAC to make a determination. The PAC may request additional information from the public body to assist in the review of the issue.

What happens if the public body relies on an advisory opinion from the PAC in responding to a FOIA request but still ends up being sued by a requestor?

A public body that relies in good faith on an advisory opinion of the Attorney General’s PAC in responding to a request is not liable for penalties under FOIA in a subsequent lawsuit, as long as the public body fully and fairly disclosed to the PAC the facts upon which the opinion is based.

What’s the difference between a requestor filing a Request for Review with the PAC and filing a suit in court?

If the PAC issues a binding opinion deciding a case, then that opinion carries significant weight. If the losing party decides to appeal it to court, the court must give deference to the PAC’s opinion and can only overturn it if it is clearly erroneous. If the requestor goes straight to court, the public body has the burden to show that its denial was correct through clear and convincing evidence. Also, if the requestor goes to court and substantially prevails against the public body, the requestor can recover attorney’s fees.

EXEMPTIONS – RECORDS THAT ARE NOT PUBLIC

What is considered a “public record”?

“Public records” are defined in FOIA as “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.” (5 ILCS 140/2(c)) Given this broad definition, FOIA is intended to cover any document, regardless of form, that pertains to government business.

Does “public record” include electronic information?

Yes. FOIA defines public records to include electronic documents and communications. When a person requests a record that is maintained in an electronic format, the public body must provide it in the electronic format specified by the request, if that is feasible for the public body. If it is not feasible, the public body must present the information in the format in which it is maintained by the public body or in a paper format at the option of the requestor. The public body may charge a fee for the actual cost of purchasing the recording medium, such as the CD, but may not charge a fee for its search for or review of the information.

What kind of information can I not get access to?
The FOIA law has a presumption that all information is public, unless the public body proves otherwise. There are several exceptions to public disclosure that include but are not limited to:

1. Private information – “Private information” is exempt from disclosure under FOIA. FOIA defines “private information” as “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 e-mail addresses.” Under FOIA, “private information also includes home addresses and personal license plate numbers, except as otherwise provided by law or when compiled without possibility of attribution to any person.”
2. Personal information that, if disclosed, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, unless the disclosure is consented to in writing by the person who is the subject of the information. Under FOIA, the “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 privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in obtaining the information.” Disclosing information that relates to the public duties of public employees is not considered an invasion of personal privacy.
3. Law enforcement records that, if disclosed, would interfere with a pending or reasonably contemplated proceeding or that would disclose the identity of a confidential source.
4. Information that, if disclosed, might endanger anyone’s life or physical safety.
5. Preliminary drafts or notes in which opinions are expressed or policies are formulated, unless the record is publicly cited and identified by the head of the public body.
6. Business trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is proprietary, privileged or confidential and disclosure would cause a competitive harm to the person or business.
7. Proposals and bids for any contract, until a final selection is made.
8. Requests that are “unduly burdensome.” (See next question.)

What does “unduly burdensome” mean?

A FOIA exemption exists for requests that are unduly burdensome. A request may be considered unduly burdensome if there is no way to narrow the request, and the burden on the public body to produce the information outweighs the public interest in the information. However, before relying on this exemption, the public body must first give the requestor an opportunity to reduce the request to a manageable size. If it is still unduly burdensome, the public body must explain in writing the reasons why the request is unduly burdensome and the extent to which compliance will burden the operations of the public body. Such a response is considered a denial.

What is a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”?

FOIA contains an exemption for records that, if disclosed, would result in a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” An “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 privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in obtaining the information.” Under FOIA, the disclosure of information that relates to the public duties of public employees is not considered an invasion of personal privacy.

COMMERCIAL REQUESTS

What is a request for information made for a commercial purpose?

A commercial request is when the requester seeks to use part or all of the public records for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services. Requests by the news media, not-for-profit organizations, scientific or academic institutions are not considered commercial information requests.

Are commercial information requests treated differently?

Yes. A public body has 21 business days to respond to a request for information that is made for a commercial purpose. The public body can either: (1) provide the requested records; (2) advise when the records will be provided and the costs; (3) deny the request (if it falls under an exception); or (4) advise the requestor that the request is unduly burdensome.

Can the public entity charge fees for copies of the information?
Yes, but the fees are limited. For traditional black and white, letter or legal sized copies (8 ½ x 11 or 11 x 17) , the first 50 pages are free, and any additional pages can cost no more than 15 cents a page. For color copies or abnormal size copies, the public body can charge the actual cost of copying.

REDACTION

Can a public body remove or black out information from produced documents? Yes, if a record contains information that is exempt from disclosure under FOIA, a public body can remove or black out that exempt information from the public records. This is called “redaction.” But the public body must produce the remaining information.