1. (a) All records created or received by or under the authority of or coming into the custody, control, or possession of public officials of this State in the course of their public duties are the property of the State. These records may not be mutilated, destroyed, transferred, removed, or otherwise damaged or disposed of, in whole or in part, except as provided by law. Any person shall have the right of access to any public records, unless access to the records is otherwise limited or prohibited by law. This subsection (a) does not apply to records that are subject to expungement under subsection (1.5) of Section 5-915 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

2. (b) Reports and records of the obligation, receipt and use of public funds of the State are public records available for inspection by the public, except as access to such records is otherwise limited or prohibited by law or pursuant to law. These records shall be kept at the official place of business of the State or at a designated place of business of the State. These records shall be available for public inspection during regular office hours except when in immediate use by persons exercising official duties which require the use of those records. Nothing in this section shall require the State to invade or assist in the invasion of any person's right to privacy. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit any right given by statute or rule of law with respect to the inspection of other types of records.

   Warrants and vouchers in the keeping of the State Comptroller may be destroyed by him as authorized in the Comptroller's Records Act after obtaining the approval of the State Records Commission.

(from Ch. 116, par. 43.6)

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)