Public employee evaluations exempted from public records law

SPRINGFIELD — Performance evaluations of public employees will no longer be available in Illinois via the Freedom of Information Act.

The Illinois Senate Wednesday voted to override a veto by Gov. Pat Quinn that had left evaluations open to public view except for police and firefighters.

Because the House had already overridden Quinn, the Senate's action is final, and all evaluations are exempt from public consumption.

Earlier legislation had already exempted the performance evaluations of teachers.

The Senate acted by a 48-3 vote after very little debate on the Senate floor. Those voting “no” included Republican state Sens. Dan Duffy of Barrington Hills and Matt Murphy of Palatine.

“They're still public employees,” Murphy said. “I think people have a right to know.”