FOIA/CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ACT Senate SponsorsSen. Michael E. Hastings 1/9/2019SenateSession Sine Die 735 ILCS 110/15Amends the Citizen Participation Act. Provides that any official, employee, or agent of a public body, or a public body on behalf of its official, employee, or agent, has a right of action in a State circuit court against a requester if a request submitted by the requester under the Freedom of Information Act is based on, relates to, or is in response to any act or acts by the official, employee, or agent of the public body, in furtherance of the rights of the official, employee, or agent to petition, speak freely, associate freely, or otherwise participate in government. Provides that the court shall award liquidated damages of $5,000 for each offending request in addition to reasonable attorney's fees and costs associated with bringing such an action, unless the court finds that the requester has produced clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the request is not based on, related to, or in response to any act or acts by the official, employee, or agent of the public body, in furtherance of the rights of the official, employee, or agent to petition, speak freely, associate freely, or otherwise participate in government; or (2) the act or acts of the official, employee, or agent of the public body are not immunized from liability, or are not in furtherance of the acts immunized from liability, under the Act. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. Hastings 2/9/2017SenateFirst Reading 2/9/2017SenateReferred to Assignments 2/28/2017SenateAssigned to Executive 3/1/2017SenateTo Subcommittee on Governmental Operations 3/2/2017SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Michael E. Hastings 3/2/2017SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 3/7/2017SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive 3/9/2017SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 To Subcommittee on Governmental Operations 3/17/2017SenateRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 3/17/2017SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 1/9/2019SenateSession Sine Die