FOIA-PERSON

This Illinois bill updates the Freedom of Information Act by changing the definition of 'person' and allowing public bodies to verify if a requester is indeed a person. If a public body suspects that a request was not made by a person, they can ask the requester to confirm their identity within 5 business days, and the response time for the request will pause until verification is provided. If the requester doesn't verify their identity within 30 days, the public body can deny the request.

Supporters of this bill argue that it strengthens the integrity of the Freedom of Information Act by ensuring that only legitimate requests are processed. They believe it will help prevent misuse of the system and protect public resources from being overwhelmed by fraudulent or non-serious inquiries.

Critics of the bill contend that it could create unnecessary barriers for individuals seeking information, potentially discouraging legitimate requests. They argue that the verification process may be cumbersome and could disproportionately affect those without easy access to the means of confirming their identity.