how to access open meeting act training on illinois attorney general website

by Alvah Cummings 9 min read

The Open Meetings Act Training is located on the Attorney General’s Website http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/ Click Here for First Time Next You Need to Create an Account by Completing the Login Form Below.

You can access the site and register at: https://foiapac.ilag.gov/. Look to the top righthand corner for the link to register and to login to the training portal.Jan 7, 2022

Full Answer

What is Open Meetings Act in Illinois?

FOIA and OMA Training Portal. The Attorney General's Office has made several security enhancements to our training portal site. If you are required by statute to complete the OMA or FOIA training, you must first register to the new site, even if you have previously registered for OMA or FOIA training.Please click on the button at the top right to register.

Are work sessions subject to the Open Meetings Act?

As of January 1, 2012, elected and appointed members of public bodies are required to complete electronic training on the Open Meetings Act that is administered by the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor (PAC). Board or committee members may access this free electronic training through the PAC's website by clicking here.

What is Open Meetings Act?

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What is an open meeting Act?

The Open Meetings Act Training is located on the Attorney General’s Website http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/ Click Here for First Time

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What is the OMA rule for closing a meeting?

Subsection 2(a) of OMA (5 ILCS 120/2(a)) requires that a public body vote on whether to close a meeting to the public, and, at the time of the vote, cite the specific exception authorizing the closing and record that citation in the minutes of the meeting. Additional notice is not required prior to holding a closed session when such session is part of an open meeting for which proper notice has been given. Accordingly, it is not necessary that a public body note its intention to close a portion of a meeting on its agenda. Indeed, a public body can decide to close a portion of a meeting to the public during the course of an open meeting.

What is the purpose of OMA section 7?

Section 7 of OMA (5 ILCS 120/7) specifically contemplates that members of a public body may attend a meeting other than by being physically present in the meeting room. The section expressly authorizes public bodies to permit attendance at meetings by video or audio conference, but only in limited circumstances. To allow a member of a public body to attend a meeting other than by being physically present in the meeting room, the public body and the member seeking to attend by other means must meet certain statutory requirements.

What is the purpose of the Office of Public Access Counselor?

The primary function of the PAC is to resolve disputes involving possible violations of the Freedom of Information Act or the Open Meetings Act in response to Requests for Review by an aggrieved party, by mediating or otherwise informally resolving the dispute or by issuing a binding opinion. The PAC may also issue advisory (non-binding) opinions with respect to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act either in response to a Request for Review or otherwise, and may respond to informal inquiries made by the public and public bodies.

What does the General Assembly declare?

"The General Assembly * * * declares it to be the public policy of this State that its citizens shall be given advance notice of and the right to attend all meetings at which any business of a public body is discussed or acted upon in any way." 5

What is the OMA?

OMA requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public unless the subject of the meeting falls within one or more of the exceptions contained in the Act. The exceptions to OMA are limited in number and are very specific. If the subject to be discussed by a public body is covered by one of the statutory exceptions, then the public body may, at its discretion, close the meeting or a portion of the meeting to the public by following the statutory requirements. However, public bodies are not required to close any meeting to the public.

What are the exceptions to the State Employees Suggestion Award Board?

There are several exceptions that are applicable only to specialized public bodies (such as the State Employees Suggestion Award Board or the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board ) or to specific actions which public bodies do not widely undertake (for example, the conciliation of complaints of discrimination in the sale or rental of housing or the recruitment, credentialing, discipline or formal peer review of physicians or other health care professionals for a hospital, or other institution providing medical care, that is operated by the public body).

What is the role of the press of business?

You are the chair of the finance committee. The press of business forces the division of the committee into two subcommitte es. You tell your subcommittee chairs not to worry about keeping minutes, since the finance committee minutes will adequately summarize their actions.

What is OMA in Illinois?

A Guide to the Open Meetings Act (OMA) in Illinois. A state law that requires meetings of public bodies to be open to the public except in certain, specific situations.

What is the purpose of OMA?

The OMA ensures that the actions of public bodies are conducted in the open, through public meetings, and that the public is able to observe the deliberations behind those actions. The public must be given advance notice of the time, place and subject matter of meetings of public bodies.

What is a public body?

A "public body" covered by OMA includes all legislative, executive, administrative or advisory bodies of the following: "Public body" also includes all committees, subcommittees and subsidiary bodies of public bodies , such as park district boards, city councils and civic commissions.

Can meetings be closed to the public?

Yes. Meetings can be closed to the public so officials can discuss: the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel for the public body;

What is security procedure?

Security procedures and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to actual, threatened, or reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property.

What are public bodies?

Public bodies include all “legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the state, counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts” along with agencies, boards, committees, and commissions, including any subsidiary body or subcommittee supported by or expending tax revenue.

How many members are needed to adopt a motion?

Accordingly, for a 5-member public body, 3 members of the body constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of 3 members is necessary to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance, unless a greater number is otherwise required.

What happens if the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that

If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law. Sec. 1. Policy.

What is a public office?

The term "public office" shall include members of the public body, but it shall not include organizational positions filled by members thereof, whether established by law or by a public body itself, that exist to assist the body in the conduct of its business.

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