FOIA section 8.5

FOIA

5 ILCS 140/8.5. Section 8.5 overview: A public body doesn't have to make you a fresh copy of a record that's already posted on its website -- it just has to point you to the URL. If you genuinely can't access it online, you can ask again and the normal Section 3 process kicks in.

1 issue across 1 determination letter:1 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 Determination letters are not binding precedent.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

Audio and video recordings of a special board meeting (PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 55627) cited 1 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-8-5.json.

TOPIC: 5 ILCS 140/8.5
SOURCE: Illinois Attorney General Public Access Bureau decisions compiled at https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-8-5/
NOTE: Determination letters are not binding precedent; they show how the Bureau applies the law.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 (1):
- Denial of video copy under section 8.5
  Rule: A public body need not copy a record published on its website if the requester can reasonably access it online; inability to download or save does not make access unreasonable.
  Decision: A recorded village board meeting video (non-binding determination letter, June 24, 2024) https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-62182/

MOST-CITED AUTHORITIES: Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 55627

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 (1)

Denial of video copy under section 8.5
Rule: A public body need not copy a record published on its website if the requester can reasonably access it online; inability to download or save does not make access unreasonable.
No violation A recorded village board meeting video · June 24, 2024