Section 551.10  Summary and Purpose

a)         These rules are established to implement the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (P.A. 83-1013, effective July 1, 1984, Supplement to Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 116, par. 201 et seq.).  The purpose of these rules is to support the policy of providing public access to the public records in the possession of the Office of the Secretary of State, while at the same time, protecting legitimate privacy interests and maintaining administrative efficiency.

b)         These rules create a procedure by which the public may request and obtain public records.  Therefore, they are being filed in accordance with Section 5-15 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 127, par. 1005-15).