(20 ILCS 35/1) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Government Electronic Records Act. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/5) Sec. 5. Policy. It is the policy of the State of Illinois to support efforts to reduce government's use of our natural resources and to look for ways to implement efficiencies. Government agencies should look for ways to employ practices that allow for either or both of the following: (1) electronic storage of documents and (2) electronic transfer of documents. These environmentally friendly practices will reduce the State's reliance on paper and may ultimately save the State money. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/10) Sec. 10. Definitions. "Commission" means the State Records Commission created under Section 16 of the State Records Act. "Electronic transfer" means transfer of documents or reports by electronic means. Appropriate electronic transfer includes, but is not limited to, transfer by electronic mail, facsimile transmission, or posting downloadable versions on an Internet website, with electronic notice of the posting."Government agency" means all parts, boards, and commissions of the executive branch of the State government including, but not limited to, State colleges and universities and their governing boards and all departments established by the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois."Record" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Illinois State Records Act (5 ILCS 160/). (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10; 97-249, eff. 8-4-11.)

(20 ILCS 35/15) Sec. 15. Electronic records. (a) A record created in an electronic format is considered the same as and has the same force and effect as those records not produced by electronic means.(b) Nothing in this Act requires any government agency or person to use an electronic record or an electronic signature if doing so could jeopardize the efficient operation of State government.(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of this Act, government agencies that obtain, store, or use electronic records shall not refuse to accept hard copy, non-electronic forms and reports, and other paper documents for submission or filing, except as otherwise provided by law or administrative rule.(d) Any government agency that uses electronic records shall allow any person or entity to have access to copies of those records as permitted by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) or other applicable law, in paper form in accordance with the fees prescribed by statute. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/20) Sec. 20. Electronic transfer of records. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all government agencies are encouraged to employ electronic means of transferring records when appropriate. Government agencies may send by electronic transmission any document, report, or record that State law would otherwise require to be placed in the U.S. mail. Those electronic records shall be protected as required by the Electronic Commerce Security Act (5 ILCS 175/). (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/25) Sec. 25. Electronic retention of documents. All government agencies are encouraged to employ electronic means of creating and retaining State records. Electronic retention of records shall be in accordance with the State Records Act (5 ILCS 160/) and with administrative rules. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/30) Sec. 30. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10. Repealed by P.A. 97-249, eff. 8-4-11.)

(20 ILCS 35/35) Sec. 35. Application. This Act is intended to allow government agencies to transfer a record by e-mail, or retain an electronic copy, unless it conflicts with the State Records Act or its administrative rules, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. When adopting these electronic practices, government agencies shall consider the constituent's access to electronic technology. This Act does not change any State law that requires publication of information in newspapers of general circulation. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)

(20 ILCS 35/37) Sec. 37. Recommendations concerning electronic records management issues. The State Records Commission may make recommendations to the Secretary of State concerning policies, guidelines, and best practices for addressing electronic records management issues. After receiving recommendations from the Commission, the Secretary of State shall, as soon as practical, post the Commission's recommendations on its official Internet website and distribute those recommendations to all government agencies. (Source: P.A. 97-249, eff. 8-4-11.)

(20 ILCS 35/40) Sec. 40. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10. Repealed by P.A. 97-249, eff. 8-4-11.)

(20 ILCS 35/99) Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 96-1363, eff. 7-28-10.)