Sent or Received by Individual Board Members Be Disclosed Pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request? An electronic communication must be disclosed if it is a public record as defined by FOIA, unless a specific exemption applies. A public record is any recorded information "pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body." 5 ILCS 140/2. Email sent or received by an individual Board member may be, depending on the content and circumstances, subject to disclosure as a public record (unless a FOIA exemption is applicable). If a Board member uses a District-provided device or email address to discuss public business, the email is subject to disclosure under FOIA, barring an applicable exemption. If a Board member uses a private device and email address, the communication is subject to FOIA if it satisfies this test: First, the communication pertains to the transaction of public business, and Second, the communication was: (1) prepared by a public body, (2) prepared for a public body, (3) used by a public body, (4) received by a public body, (5) possessed by a public body, and/or (6) controlled by a public body. This test is from the appellate court decision in City of Champaign x. Xxxxxxx, 992 N.E.2d 629 (Ill.App.4th, 2013). The following examples describe XXXX's treatment of electronic communications:
