Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

It is the public policy of the Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the governance of the HRC consistent with the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5) and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). A fundamental obligation of the HRC is to operate openly and to provide public records in an efficient and expedient manner consistent with the Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act. The HRC is not obligated to maintain or prepare any public record that was not maintained or prepared by the HRC on the effective date of the Freedom of Information Act, as amended except as otherwise required by applicable local, State, or Federal law. Requests that foster an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, of commercial enterprise that unduly burdens public resources, and requests that disrupt the duly-undertaken work of the HRC, absent an exemption, are not contemplated under the Freedom of Information Act.

HRC FOIA requests may be submitted as follows:

Faxed to: 312-814-6517, to the attention of the FOIA Officer of the Illinois Human Rights Commission

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E-mailed to: The Attention of the FOIA Officer (write in subject line) at HRC.FOIA@illinois.gov on all HRC FOIA requests made via e-mail.

The requestor should clearly state that he or she is seeking information pursuant to the FOIA. Further, the requestor should clearly describe the information being sought. The request should include full contact information for the requestor, including name, organization, mailing address, fax number, and daytime telephone number.

If so desired, the requestor must state if he or she wants the HRC to certify the FOIA records. The HRC cannot certify the FOIA records after they have been sent to the requestor.

Pursuant to Section 3 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/3), the HRC will respond within five (5) business days after its receipt of the request.

HRC can only provide records for HRC agency matters.

Pursuant to Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/6), agencies "may charges fees that are reasonably calculated to reimburse its actual cost for reproducing and certifying public records." Please see Section 6 for more information.

The website information concerning these HRC FOIA procedures is being provided as required by Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/4). This website information may be revised and/or updated in the future.