FOIA section 8.5(b)

FOIA

5 ILCS 140/8.5(b). Section 8.5 overview: A public body doesn't have to make you a fresh copy of a record that's already posted on its website -- it just has to point you to the URL. If you genuinely can't access it online, you can ask again and the normal Section 3 process kicks in.

1 issue across 1 determination letter:1 violation found.

Counts are per issue, not per letter, and come from automated extraction checked against sampled letters. Determination letters are not binding precedent.

Authorities the Bureau cites most on this issue

Bowie v. Evanston Community Consolidated School District No. 65, 128 Ill. 2d 373 (1989) cited 1 times

Drafting brief for an AI assistant

Copy this into your assistant to help draft a request, appeal, or challenge to a denial that turns on this issue. It carries the rules and decisions, not your facts: add those yourself. Machine-readable version: foia-8-5-b.json.

TOPIC: 5 ILCS 140/8.5(b)
SOURCE: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau decisions compiled at https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-8-5-b/
NOTE: Determination letters are not binding precedent; they show how the Bureau applies the law. Verify every decision against the source PDF before citing it.

VIOLATION FOUND (1):
- Refusal to provide copies of records not reasonably accessible online
  Rule: When a requester states an inability to reasonably access records online, the public body must provide copies rather than direct the requester to review voluminous non-responsive materials.
  Decision: Records concerning fourteen specific properties (non-binding determination letter, July 26, 2016) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-39089/

MOST-CITED AUTHORITIES: Bowie v. Evanston Community Consolidated School District No. 65, 128 Ill. 2d 373 (1989)

TASK FOR THE ASSISTANT: Using only the decisions above, help draft a letter. Argue from the rule and cite the decision by name and date. Do not invent decisions.

Violation found (1)

Refusal to provide copies of records not reasonably accessible online
Rule: When a requester states an inability to reasonably access records online, the public body must provide copies rather than direct the requester to review voluminous non-responsive materials.
Violation found Records concerning fourteen specific properties · July 26, 2016