Citizen Advocacy Center
  • Home
  • FAQ
  • About Us
    • Leadership Personnel >
      • Executive Director Search
    • Internships
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Council
    • Founder
    • Citizen Initiative Awards
  • Core Activities
    • Answering Questions of Public Concern
    • Education, Training, & Resources
    • Monitoring Government Activity
    • Advocacy to Strengthen Laws & Institutions
  • Events
  • Library
    • e-Newsletters
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Citizen Guides
    • Policy Reports >
      • Good Government Research Studies
      • Survey of Government Regulations on Public Assembly in DuPage Municipalities
      • Midwest Open Government Project
      • Right to Speak Report
      • Sexual Harassment Policy Survey
    • Databases >
      • Public Access Counselor Determination Letter Index
    • CAC News
    • Annual Reports
  • Act
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Legal Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Donate
    • THANK YOU!

Follow our blog here.

CAC Survey Underscores Need for Strong Public Notice Requirement

3/17/2015

 
CAC conducted a survey of over 750 local government websites to audit compliance with public notice requirements. Survey results showed that despite the legal requirement to post public notices on websites, many government bodies do not comply. Only 73% posted notices of meetings, 57% posted meeting agendas, and 48% posted meeting minutes.  

When HB261 was introduced in January 2015, recent articles cited the CAC survey to demonstrate why HB261 is a bad idea and should be defeated. The bill seeks to undermine current public notice requirements in Illinois by eliminating public notices from newspapers (and from PublicNoticeIllinois.com where every public notice published in newspapers around the state is posted).  It would allow notices to be posted ONLY on government websites.

The proposed changes in HB261 would limit the public's access to information, and make it difficult, if not impossible, for local citizens to act as watchdogs over their tax dollars and to monitor the more than 7,000 public bodies in Illinois.

The bill is currently stalled in committee in the Illinois House -- Counties and Townships Committee -- after an initial vote. However, the bill's sponsor is promising to bring it up for another vote and is continuing to add co-sponsors.

It takes vigilance to protect transparency.  CAC is doing the work necessary to keep Sunshine Laws strong in Illinois.
Articles that cite CAC survey:

Belleville News Democrat
BND.com
Shining a light on government
3/14/15

State Journal-Register  Editorial: Reasons for Sunshine Week abound at all levels of government
3/14/15


Bill eliminating local government notices in newpapers fails
3/12/15

The News Gazette
Public Information
3/5/15


Quad-Cities Online   Editorial: Illinois public notice bill terrible for state's taxpayers  2/22/15

Find your IL House and Senate Representatives

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    2023.3.20._right_to_speak_pac_determination_let.pdf
    File Size: 218 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    April 2020
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011

    Categories

    All
    Andrea Alvarez
    CAC In The News
    Campaign Finance
    Chicago
    Citizen Advocacy Center
    Civic Education
    Civic Education
    Economic Development
    Elections
    Elmhurst
    Ethics/Corruption
    Events
    First Amendment
    First Amendment
    Freedom Of Information FOIA
    Freedom Of Information - FOIA
    Home Rule
    Illinois Legislation
    Intern Program
    Letter To The Editor
    Letter To The Editor
    Maryam Judar
    Open Meetings Act
    Redistricting
    Terry Pastika
    TIF
    Transparency & Accountability
    Voting / Election
    Whistleblower
    Zoning & Land Use

DONATE
Citizen Advocacy Center    
​
188 W Industrial Drive, Suite 106   Elmhurst, IL 60126-1600   
Phone: (630) 833-4080  Fax: (630) 833-4083
 ​© 2023 All Rights Reserved.       PRIVACY POLICY        LEGAL DISCLAIMER      CONTACT A COMMUNITY LAWYER
  • Home
  • FAQ
  • About Us
    • Leadership Personnel >
      • Executive Director Search
    • Internships
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Council
    • Founder
    • Citizen Initiative Awards
  • Core Activities
    • Answering Questions of Public Concern
    • Education, Training, & Resources
    • Monitoring Government Activity
    • Advocacy to Strengthen Laws & Institutions
  • Events
  • Library
    • e-Newsletters
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Citizen Guides
    • Policy Reports >
      • Good Government Research Studies
      • Survey of Government Regulations on Public Assembly in DuPage Municipalities
      • Midwest Open Government Project
      • Right to Speak Report
      • Sexual Harassment Policy Survey
    • Databases >
      • Public Access Counselor Determination Letter Index
    • CAC News
    • Annual Reports
  • Act
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Legal Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Donate
    • THANK YOU!