During what's known as Sunshine Week, a time dedicated to the promotion of government transparency, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released an insightful Public Access Counselor (PAC) Annual Report. The report, proudly highlighted by Raoul, is part of an effort to enhance transparency within the state's governance by resolving disputes over the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) compliance, as detailed on the Attorney General's website. Last year, PAC handled over 4,200 new matters and provided training to thousands on Illinois' transparency laws.
"I encourage appointed and elected officials and FOIA officers, as well as the public, to attend critical and thorough trainings led by the Public Access Bureau's experts to ensure public bodies understand their obligations under transparency laws," Raoul said, as stated by the Attorney General's Office. The PAC, notable for its robust involvement since 2010, received 4,234 requests for assistance in 2024 alone – an uptick to more than 350 new matters per month. These requests and the resulting determinations have offered precious legal guidance across the state, enhancing the understanding of public record access and the necessity of open meetings.
As part of their educational endeavors, the PAC hosted 16 webinars last year, drawing in over 3,500 participants eager to grasp their roles under FOIA and OMA. In 2024, the PAC made 16 binding opinions, which serve as enforceable court guidance on government transparency laws. Among these was opinion 24-007, which clarified that "employment purposes" could include job responsibilities that necessitate attending meetings remotely and indicated that the frequency of such remote attendance isn't capped by the OMA, as reported by the Illinois Attorney General's office.
Groups interested in proactive training by the Attorney General's Office can reach out to [email protected], and those seeking assistance from the Public Access Bureau can contact the hotline at 1-877-299-FOIA (3642) or send an email to [email protected].
