FOIA section 3.3

FOIA

5 ILCS 140/3.3. Section 3.3 overview: A public body only has to hand over records -- it doesn't have to interpret them or explain what they mean.

4 issues across 4 determination letters:4 no violation.

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 Determination letters are not binding precedent.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

Chicago Tribune Co. v. Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427 cited 2 times
Kenyon v. Garrels, 184 Ill. App. 3d 28 (4th Dist. 1989) cited 2 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-3-3.json.

TOPIC: 5 ILCS 140/3.3
SOURCE: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau decisions compiled at https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-3-3/
NOTE: Determination letters are not binding precedent; they show how the Bureau applies the law.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.

NO VIOLATION (4):
- Whether District was required to identify or itemize previously provided records
  Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to interpret or advise requesters as to the meaning or significance of public records.
  Decision: A school district's insurance policies and related records (non-binding determination letter, April 2, 2026) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-91277/
- Request sought answers to questions, not public records
  Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to answer questions, create new records, or interpret the meaning of records.
  Decision: Definitions of abbreviations and memo entries in a document (non-binding determination letter, December 15, 2023) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-79254/
- Request asked questions rather than identifying public records
  Rule: FOIA does not require public bodies to answer questions or interpret records; a request must reasonably identify a public record.
  Decision: Police misconduct reports in a cold case investigation (non-binding determination letter, March 11, 2022) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70082/
- Whether FOIA requires District to interpret the March 3, 2014 letter or answer questions
  Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to interpret or advise requesters as to the meaning or significance of public records.
  Decision: Investigation reports and complaints referenced in a prior communication (non-binding determination letter, February 8, 2017) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-37368/

MOST-CITED AUTHORITIES: Chicago Tribune Co. v. Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427; Kenyon v. Garrels, 184 Ill. App. 3d 28 (4th Dist. 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.

No violation (4)

Whether District was required to identify or itemize previously provided records
Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to interpret or advise requesters as to the meaning or significance of public records.
No violation A school district's insurance policies and related records · April 2, 2026
Request sought answers to questions, not public records
Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to answer questions, create new records, or interpret the meaning of records.
No violation Definitions of abbreviations and memo entries in a document · December 15, 2023
Request asked questions rather than identifying public records
Rule: FOIA does not require public bodies to answer questions or interpret records; a request must reasonably identify a public record.
No violation Police misconduct reports in a cold case investigation · March 11, 2022
Whether FOIA requires District to interpret the March 3, 2014 letter or answer questions
Rule: FOIA does not require a public body to interpret or advise requesters as to the meaning or significance of public records.
No violation Investigation reports and complaints referenced in a prior communication · February 8, 2017