Bill passes requiring release of Menard prison workers' comp tests

A measure requiring Illinois' Central Management Services to turn over document s requested under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act about workers' compensation claims made by Menard Correctional Center guards passed the Illinois House on Friday.

CMS filed suit to prevent the release of the documents, though the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor issued a binding opinion stating 50 nerve conduction velocity tests should be released to the Belleville News-Democrat.

"The Illinois House overwhelmingly approved and agree with me that CMS must follow the law and release the records requested under the Freedom of Information Act," said the resolution's sponsor, state Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon). "We owe the taxpayers transparency due to the fact that nearly $10 million in workers' compensation claims were awarded at the Menard Prison."

In February, Belleville News-Democrat reporters filed a FOIA request, asking for the anonymous medical test used to determine whether a person shows signs of repetitive trauma, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The Illinois Attorney General issued a binding opinion that the information should be released in April, but CMS filed suit in Cook County to bar the release of the information.

That suit it pending.

"The new FOIA law enacted did not include carve outs, the intent is to make Illinois more transparent and CMS is not exempt from the law. The Attorney General and the Illinois House agree with me, CMS must release the anonymous medical records to help determine if, when and where the system failed the taxpayers," Kay said.