Background checks on speakers prohibited

5 ILCS 850/10, under Empowering Public Participation Act.

5 ILCS 850/10

(5 ILCS 850/10)

    Sec. 10. Background checks on speakers prohibited.     (a) A law enforcement agency or an officer employed by a law enforcement agency may not knowingly and intentionally conduct a background check of a person for the sole reason of that person speaking at an open meeting of a public body, including police disciplinary boards.     (b) Subsection (a) does not apply: whenever an agency or officer develops a reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct or a reasonable suspicion of a threat to security for the premises in which the meeting is to occur or for the protection of public officials and other persons attending the meeting; and whenever the person speaking at an open meeting of the public body is also under consideration for appointment to a government position by that public body.     (c) This Act creates no claims for damages or other relief for violations of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-348, eff. 8-13-21.)