Bill Text: IL SR1472 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares March 11 through March 18, 2018 as "Sunshine Week".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-09 - Session Sine Die [SR1472 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR1472-Introduced.html

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SR1472 LRB100 21071 MST 36869 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on the
principles of an open and participatory government; and
WHEREAS, The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
guarantees the rights of freedom of speech, religion, press,
assembly, and petition; and
WHEREAS, Every citizen in our participatory democracy has
an inherent right to access to government meetings and public
records; and
WHEREAS, An open and accessible government is vital to
establishing and maintaining the people's trust and confidence
in their government and in the government's ability to
effectively serve its citizens; and
WHEREAS, The protection of every person's right of access
to public records and government meetings is an important part
of a representative democracy; and
WHEREAS, Illinois units of government should strive for
openness and transparency in all aspects of their operations
and seek to set a standard in this regard; and

SR1472 - 2 - LRB100 21071 MST 36869 r
WHEREAS, The American Society of News Editors and the
Illinois Press Association celebrate annually the openness of
American democracy and government during Sunshine Week in honor
of founding father and open government advocate, James Madison;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 11
through March 18, 2018 as "Sunshine Week", a week devoted to
the openness and transparency of government, commemorating the
anniversary of James Madison's birth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we will work diligently throughout the year
to enhance the public's access to government records and
information, and to ensure that all meetings of deliberative
bodies and committees are fully noticed and open to the public.