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HB 4408

FOIA-VICTIM INFORMATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Haas

Illinois HB 4408 restricts FOIA disclosure of victim information to balance public records access with survivor privacy protection.

Referred to Rules Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 4408

Legislative bill overview

HB 4408 proposes modifications to Illinois' Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regarding the disclosure of victim information in public records. The bill creates exemptions or restrictions on releasing certain victim-related data through FOIA requests, though the specific scope and details would depend on the bill's full text and amendments.

Why is this important

Victim privacy protection directly affects public safety and survivor wellbeing—inappropriate disclosure of victim information can enable harassment, stalking, or further harm. However, FOIA transparency is fundamental to government accountability, so any exemptions must balance victim safety against the public's right to access government records and monitor law enforcement operations.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope definition: What qualifies as "victim information" (names, addresses, phone numbers, medical details, criminal history) and whether exemptions are too broad or too narrow
  • Transparency vs. privacy: Whether expanded FOIA exemptions could shield government misconduct or accountability failures while claiming victim protection
  • Implementation consistency: How law enforcement agencies would uniformly apply exemptions without creating arbitrary redaction standards across jurisdictions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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