2013 Articles

The General Assembly has amended the Public Utilities Act to alter the environmental disclosure delivery requirements.

On July 16, 2013, the Fourth District Appellate Court upheld a binding opinion issued by the Illinois Attorney General that found text messages and emails sent or received from city council members' personal devices during public meetings were public records subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). 5 ILCS 140 et seq. (2010).

The Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended to allow for the electronic display of insurance information for the proof of insurance that is required to be carried in the vehicle. 625 ILCS 5/7-602.

Illinois employers are now prohibited from requesting or requiring password or account information or demanding access to employees' or prospective employees' social networking profiles. 820 ILCS 55/10.

The Illinois General Assembly passed a resolution effective this year to encourage collaboration between farmers' markets and convention centers.

Effective July 5, 2013, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources adopted an amendment which allows Conservation Police Officers and local law enforcement officers to enforce the night speed limits designated by the Fox Waterway Agency on the Fox Chain O'Lakes. 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2030.30(g)(2).

Residential telephone subscribers who receive a call from an autodialer in violation of the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act, which includes receiving such a call between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., will now be able to bring an action for statutory damages.

Illinois lawmakers have amended the Criminal Code of 1961 by adding the offense of "Failure to report the death or disappearance of a child under 13 years of age." 720 ILCS 5/10-10 new.

Any individual over the age of 18 is now guilty of a Class 4 felony if he or she actively "aids or assists" a criminal offender in escaping a jurisdiction in which the offender "is to be arrested, charged, or prosecuted."

On September 12, 2013, the Illinois Supreme Court held that Illinois courts can remove federally imposed firearm bans for persons with state convictions by following the procedures in the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Act ("FOID Card Act"), 430 ILCS 65/10(c).