Ease Public Records Burden: Elmhurst Officials

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is joining other DuPage County towns in asking the state to ease its burden under the state Freedom of Information Act, which ensures people have access to government records.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously for the legislative agenda of the DuPage County Mayors and Managers Conference.

The group wants the state to extend the response period for non-commercial public records requests. Now, it is five business days, allowing reasons for extensions. The conference does not say what it would like the period to be.

The conference is also asking the state to let towns charge fees for electronic records, which are free now.

Also on the agenda is a request to continue protecting the legal concept of qualified immunity. The conference says this makes sure local governments are not "unduly liable" for officials discharging their duties.

Many pushing for more scrutiny of police officers have asked to limit qualified immunity, making it easier to successfully sue officers individually.

Elmhurst is a home-rule town, but many of the conference's members are not. The conference asks lawmakers to repeal "arbitrary" restrictions on non-home rule towns, including those related to crime-free housing programs, eminent domain, police personnel discipline procedures and environmental regulatory authority.

Check the conference's list of requests to lawmakers.