Amendatory Veto of FOIA Performance Evaluation Bill

The Governor has issued an amendatory veto of HB 5154, which would amend the Personnel Records Review Act to prohibit the FOIA disclosure of performance evaluations of all public employees.In his veto message, the Governor expresses concern that approval of this bill would effectively depart from progress toward openness in government attained in the recent overhaul of the FOIA statute. The Governor’s amendatory veto recommends that the prohibition on FOIA disclosure instead be limited to performance evaluations of law enforcement officers. The legislature will consider this issue in the fall veto session.Earlier this year the Governor signed SB 315 (P.A. 96-0861), which contained Illinois Race to the Top compliance provisions as well as an amendment to the School Code prohibiting the disclosure of performance evaluations of public school teachers, principals and superintendents.