The Public Servant

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Standing Committee on Government Lawyers

January 2012 • Volume 13 • Number 2 •

January 2012 Government Lawyers Newsletter

The new 2011 Guide to the Illinois Statutes of Limitation is here! The Guide contains Illinois civil statutes of limitation enacted and amended through September 2011, with annotations. This is a quick reference to Illinois statutes of limitation, bringing together provisions otherwise scattered throughout the Code of Civil Procedure and other chapters of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Go to https://www.isba.org/store/books/guidetoillinoisstatutesoflimitation2011 for more information.

Back to School Savings! Sign up for the Unlimited Law Ed Passport Live or the Unlimited Law Ed Passport Online and earn unlimited MCLE credit through June 30, 2012! Go to www.isba.org/CLE/Passport to learn more.

Good News - The Illinois Supreme Court has eliminated the $20 fee for claiming writing credits. That means you can now write an article for this ISBA newsletter AND get MCLE credit for it—for free! Visit http://www.mcleboard.org/ for details.

Ask and Get Answers! Now you can pose questions to and share information with your fellow Government Lawyers members from around the state. Go to http://www.isba.org/discussions to learn more.

Now every article is the start of a discussion. If you're a member of the Standing Committee on Government Lawyers, you can comment on any of the articles that appear below.

In This Issue

All members of public bodies required to complete Attorney General’s Open Meetings Act training curriculum

Public body members serving in office on January 1, 2012, must complete the training by December 31, 2012. Persons who become members of public bodies after January 1, 2012, must complete the training curriculum within 90 days of assuming office.

Is information on privately-owned electronic devices subject to FOIA?—What Public Access Binding Opinion No. 11-006 means to you and your government clients

By John Redlingshafer

Opinion 11-006 of the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Bureau firmly establishes that electronic communications, whether shared on publicly or privately-owned devices, can be considered “public records” and therefore, may be subject to FOIA.

Public employees and free speech

By Matthew Feda

An overview of the history and current trends in the law regarding public employee free speech, as well as practical advice for bringing a claim.

Final regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act are now available

By Eileen M. Geary

The new regulations follow the ADAAA’s directive that mitigating measures not be considered in determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity. Mitigating measures can eliminate or reduce the symptoms or impact of an impairment, and can include medication, prosthetics, and assistive technology.

New MCLE rule changes effective September 27, 2011

By Patrick T. Driscoll Jr. & Julie Busch

A summary of the significant changes to the MCLE rules that apply to all attorneys.

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Disclaimer: This newsletter is for subscribers’ personal use only; redistribution is prohibited. Copyright Illinois State Bar Association. Statements or expressions of opinion appearing herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Association or Editors, and likewise the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement.