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91_HB3239eng HB3239 Engrossed LRB9110860STsb 1 AN ACT to amend the Code of Civil Procedure by adding 2 Section 2-1306. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by 6 adding Section 2-1306 as follows: 7 (735 ILCS 5/2-1306 new) 8 Sec. 2-1306. Sunshine in litigation. 9 (a) As used in this Section, "public hazard" means an 10 instrumentality, including but not limited to a device, an 11 instrument, a person, a procedure, a product, or a condition 12 of a device, an instrument, a person, a procedure, or a 13 product, that has caused and is likely to cause injury. 14 (b) Except under this Section, no court shall enter an 15 order or a judgment that has the purpose or effect of 16 concealing a public hazard or any information concerning a 17 public hazard, nor shall the court enter an order or a 18 judgment that has the purpose or effect of concealing any 19 information that may be useful to members of the public in 20 protecting themselves from injury that may result from the 21 public hazard. 22 (c) Any portion of an agreement or a contract that has 23 the purpose or effect of concealing a public hazard, any 24 information concerning a public hazard, or any information 25 that may be useful to members of the public in protecting 26 themselves from injury that may result from the public hazard 27 is void and contrary to public policy and may not be 28 enforced. 29 (d) Any substantially affected person, including but not 30 limited to representatives of news media, has standing to 31 contest an order, a judgment, an agreement, or a contract HB3239 Engrossed -2- LRB9110860STsb 1 that violates this Section. A person may contest an order, a 2 judgment, an agreement, or a contract that violates this 3 Section by motion in the court that entered the order or 4 judgment or by bringing an action for declaratory judgment. 5 (e) Upon motion and good cause shown by a party 6 attempting to prevent disclosure of information or materials 7 that have not previously been disclosed, including but not 8 limited to alleged trade secrets, the court shall examine the 9 disputed information or materials in camera. If the court 10 finds that the information or materials or portions of the 11 information or materials consist of information concerning a 12 public hazard or information that may be useful to members of 13 the public in protecting themselves from injury that may 14 result from a public hazard, the court shall allow disclosure 15 of the information or materials. If allowing disclosure, the 16 court shall allow disclosure of only that portion of the 17 information or materials necessary or useful to the public 18 regarding the public hazard. 19 (f) This Section applies to causes of action accruing on 20 or after July 1, 2000. 21 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 22 1, 2000.