Illinois Open Government Assistance Requests Increase 38 Percent

Requests to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office for assistance with the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA) increased by 38 percent in 2007, according to a release from Madigan's office..

The statistics, released today as part of Madigan's third Public Access Counselor Annual Report, show that in 2007, the Attorney General's office received 1,366 requests from the public, government officials and members of the media for assistance in matters dealing with the Illinois FOIA and OMA. In 2006, the office received 988 requests.

Members of the public seeking access to government information continue to lead requests for assistance. Of the total number of written and telephone requests relating to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, 939, or nearly 69 percent came from members of the public.

Madigan's Public Access team also saw a large increase in the number of requests for FOIA and OMA assistance from government officials. In 2007, the Public Access Counselor received 111 requests for FOIA assistance from government officials, up 178 percent from the 40 requests from government officials in 2006. Additionally, in 2007, the Public Access Counselor received 174 requests from government officials for assistance in addressing Open Meetings Act questions, up 262 percent from the 48 requests received in the previous year.

"By working so closely with the public, government officials and members of the media, we are developing a detailed record of how the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act are working," Madigan added. "As we move forward, this record will help us in our effort to bring legislators, open government advocates and local elected officials together to draft much needed changes to these laws."

Along with responding to 1,366 requests relating to FOIA and OMA, the Attorney General's office conducted 51 training sessions throughout the state last year to provide a more detailed understanding of the state's sunshine laws. Each training event features an overview of the laws, what a government official must do to be in compliance with the laws and how people can use the laws to better participate in open and honest government. Over the past three years, the Attorney General's office has held more than 180 training sessions throughout Illinois.

In addition, Madigan's office has made available in-depth guides to the Illinois OMA and FOIA.