{
 "topic": "FOIA section 8.5(a)",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/8.5(a)",
 "family": "Denials and notice requirements",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-8-5-a/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 1,
  "no_violation": 2,
  "no_determination": 0,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": null,
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "City's response directing requester to website",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A public body need not email records posted online if it notifies the requester and directs them to the website where the records can be reasonably accessed.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A city's income sources and amounts for three years",
    "date": "2025-01-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84510/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Duncan Publishing, Inc. v. City of Chicago, 304 Ill. App. 3d 778, 782 (1999)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "City's failure to properly direct requester to website",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Section 8.5(a) requires a public body to notify the requester that the record is available online and direct the requester to the website where the record can be reasonably accessed.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A city's income sources and amounts for three years",
    "date": "2025-01-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-84510/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Online posting under section 8.5(a)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A public body may direct a requester to a website link to a video hosting service like YouTube to satisfy the online availability requirement.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Audio and video recordings of a special board meeting",
    "date": "2021-12-23",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-55627/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "People v. Garcia, 241 Ill. 2d 416, 421 (2011)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}