Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 096-1232
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Public Act 096-1232


 

Public Act 1232 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  
  

 


 
Public Act 096-1232
 
HB4863 EnrolledLRB096 16225 RCE 31481 b

    AN ACT concerning finance.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971
is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:
 
    (5 ILCS 375/10)  (from Ch. 127, par. 530)
    Sec. 10. Payments by State; premiums.
    (a) The State shall pay the cost of basic non-contributory
group life insurance and, subject to member paid contributions
set by the Department or required by this Section, the basic
program of group health benefits on each eligible member,
except a member, not otherwise covered by this Act, who has
retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the
Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement
annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code, and
part of each eligible member's and retired member's premiums
for health insurance coverage for enrolled dependents as
provided by Section 9. The State shall pay the cost of the
basic program of group health benefits only after benefits are
reduced by the amount of benefits covered by Medicare for all
members and dependents who are eligible for benefits under
Social Security or the Railroad Retirement system or who had
sufficient Medicare-covered government employment, except that
such reduction in benefits shall apply only to those members
and dependents who (1) first become eligible for such Medicare
coverage on or after July 1, 1992; or (2) are Medicare-eligible
members or dependents of a local government unit which began
participation in the program on or after July 1, 1992; or (3)
remain eligible for, but no longer receive Medicare coverage
which they had been receiving on or after July 1, 1992. The
Department may determine the aggregate level of the State's
contribution on the basis of actual cost of medical services
adjusted for age, sex or geographic or other demographic
characteristics which affect the costs of such programs.
    The cost of participation in the basic program of group
health benefits for the dependent or survivor of a living or
deceased retired employee who was formerly employed by the
University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service and
would be an annuitant but for the fact that he or she was made
ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement
System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the
Illinois Pension Code shall not be greater than the cost of
participation that would otherwise apply to that dependent or
survivor if he or she were the dependent or survivor of an
annuitant under the State Universities Retirement System.
    (a-1) Beginning January 1, 1998, for each person who
becomes a new SERS annuitant and participates in the basic
program of group health benefits, the State shall contribute
toward the cost of the annuitant's coverage under the basic
program of group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that
cost for each full year of creditable service upon which the
annuitant's retirement annuity is based, up to a maximum of
100% for an annuitant with 20 or more years of creditable
service. The remainder of the cost of a new SERS annuitant's
coverage under the basic program of group health benefits shall
be the responsibility of the annuitant. In the case of a new
SERS annuitant who has elected to receive an alternative
retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the
Illinois Pension Code in lieu of an annuity, for the purposes
of this subsection the annuitant shall be deemed to be
receiving a retirement annuity based on the number of years of
creditable service that the annuitant had established at the
time of his or her termination of service under SERS.
    (a-2) Beginning January 1, 1998, for each person who
becomes a new SERS survivor and participates in the basic
program of group health benefits, the State shall contribute
toward the cost of the survivor's coverage under the basic
program of group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that
cost for each full year of the deceased employee's or deceased
annuitant's creditable service in the State Employees'
Retirement System of Illinois on the date of death, up to a
maximum of 100% for a survivor of an employee or annuitant with
20 or more years of creditable service. The remainder of the
cost of the new SERS survivor's coverage under the basic
program of group health benefits shall be the responsibility of
the survivor. In the case of a new SERS survivor who was the
dependent of an annuitant who elected to receive an alternative
retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the
Illinois Pension Code in lieu of an annuity, for the purposes
of this subsection the deceased annuitant's creditable service
shall be determined as of the date of termination of service
rather than the date of death.
    (a-3) Beginning January 1, 1998, for each person who
becomes a new SURS annuitant and participates in the basic
program of group health benefits, the State shall contribute
toward the cost of the annuitant's coverage under the basic
program of group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that
cost for each full year of creditable service upon which the
annuitant's retirement annuity is based, up to a maximum of
100% for an annuitant with 20 or more years of creditable
service. The remainder of the cost of a new SURS annuitant's
coverage under the basic program of group health benefits shall
be the responsibility of the annuitant.
    (a-4) (Blank).
    (a-5) Beginning January 1, 1998, for each person who
becomes a new SURS survivor and participates in the basic
program of group health benefits, the State shall contribute
toward the cost of the survivor's coverage under the basic
program of group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that
cost for each full year of the deceased employee's or deceased
annuitant's creditable service in the State Universities
Retirement System on the date of death, up to a maximum of 100%
for a survivor of an employee or annuitant with 20 or more
years of creditable service. The remainder of the cost of the
new SURS survivor's coverage under the basic program of group
health benefits shall be the responsibility of the survivor.
    (a-6) Beginning July 1, 1998, for each person who becomes a
new TRS State annuitant and participates in the basic program
of group health benefits, the State shall contribute toward the
cost of the annuitant's coverage under the basic program of
group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that cost for
each full year of creditable service as a teacher as defined in
paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of the Illinois
Pension Code upon which the annuitant's retirement annuity is
based, up to a maximum of 100%; except that the State
contribution shall be 12.5% per year (rather than 5%) for each
full year of creditable service as a regional superintendent or
assistant regional superintendent of schools. The remainder of
the cost of a new TRS State annuitant's coverage under the
basic program of group health benefits shall be the
responsibility of the annuitant.
    (a-7) Beginning July 1, 1998, for each person who becomes a
new TRS State survivor and participates in the basic program of
group health benefits, the State shall contribute toward the
cost of the survivor's coverage under the basic program of
group health benefits an amount equal to 5% of that cost for
each full year of the deceased employee's or deceased
annuitant's creditable service as a teacher as defined in
paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of the Illinois
Pension Code on the date of death, up to a maximum of 100%;
except that the State contribution shall be 12.5% per year
(rather than 5%) for each full year of the deceased employee's
or deceased annuitant's creditable service as a regional
superintendent or assistant regional superintendent of
schools. The remainder of the cost of the new TRS State
survivor's coverage under the basic program of group health
benefits shall be the responsibility of the survivor.
    (a-8) A new SERS annuitant, new SERS survivor, new SURS
annuitant, new SURS survivor, new TRS State annuitant, or new
TRS State survivor may waive or terminate coverage in the
program of group health benefits. Any such annuitant or
survivor who has waived or terminated coverage may enroll or
re-enroll in the program of group health benefits only during
the annual benefit choice period, as determined by the
Director; except that in the event of termination of coverage
due to nonpayment of premiums, the annuitant or survivor may
not re-enroll in the program.
    (a-9) No later than May 1 of each calendar year, the
Director of Central Management Services shall certify in
writing to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees'
Retirement System of Illinois the amounts of the Medicare
supplement health care premiums and the amounts of the health
care premiums for all other retirees who are not Medicare
eligible.
    A separate calculation of the premiums based upon the
actual cost of each health care plan shall be so certified.
    The Director of Central Management Services shall provide
to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement
System of Illinois such information, statistics, and other data
as he or she may require to review the premium amounts
certified by the Director of Central Management Services.
    The Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or any
successor agency designated to procure healthcare contracts
pursuant to this Act, is authorized to establish funds,
separate accounts provided by any bank or banks as defined by
the Illinois Banking Act, or separate accounts provided by any
savings and loan association or associations as defined by the
Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to be held by the
Director, outside the State treasury, for the purpose of
receiving the transfer of moneys from the Local Government
Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The Department may promulgate
rules further defining the methodology for the transfers. Any
interest earned by moneys in the funds or accounts shall inure
to the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The
transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall be used
exclusively for transfers to administrative service
organizations or their financial institutions for payments of
claims to claimants and providers under the self-insurance
health plan. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued
thereon, shall not be used for any other purpose including, but
not limited to, reimbursement of administration fees due the
administrative service organization pursuant to its contract
or contracts with the Department.
    (b) State employees who become eligible for this program on
or after January 1, 1980 in positions normally requiring actual
performance of duty not less than 1/2 of a normal work period
but not equal to that of a normal work period, shall be given
the option of participating in the available program. If the
employee elects coverage, the State shall contribute on behalf
of such employee to the cost of the employee's benefit and any
applicable dependent supplement, that sum which bears the same
percentage as that percentage of time the employee regularly
works when compared to normal work period.
    (c) The basic non-contributory coverage from the basic
program of group health benefits shall be continued for each
employee not in pay status or on active service by reason of
(1) leave of absence due to illness or injury, (2) authorized
educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3)
military leave with pay and benefits. This coverage shall
continue until expiration of authorized leave and return to
active service, but not to exceed 24 months for leaves under
item (1) or (2). This 24-month limitation and the requirement
of returning to active service shall not apply to persons
receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits or
retirement benefits through the appropriate State retirement
system or benefits under the Workers' Compensation or
Occupational Disease Act.
    (d) The basic group life insurance coverage shall continue,
with full State contribution, where such person is (1) absent
from active service by reason of disability arising from any
cause other than self-inflicted, (2) on authorized educational
leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) on military leave
with pay and benefits.
    (e) Where the person is in non-pay status for a period in
excess of 30 days or on leave of absence, other than by reason
of disability, educational or sabbatical leave, or military
leave with pay and benefits, such person may continue coverage
only by making personal payment equal to the amount normally
contributed by the State on such person's behalf. Such payments
and coverage may be continued: (1) until such time as the
person returns to a status eligible for coverage at State
expense, but not to exceed 24 months, (2) until such person's
employment or annuitant status with the State is terminated, or
(3) for a maximum period of 4 years for members on military
leave with pay and benefits and military leave without pay and
benefits (exclusive of any additional service imposed pursuant
to law).
    (f) The Department shall establish by rule the extent to
which other employee benefits will continue for persons in
non-pay status or who are not in active service.
    (g) The State shall not pay the cost of the basic
non-contributory group life insurance, program of health
benefits and other employee benefits for members who are
survivors as defined by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection
(q) of Section 3 of this Act. The costs of benefits for these
survivors shall be paid by the survivors or by the University
of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, or any combination
thereof. However, the State shall pay the amount of the
reduction in the cost of participation, if any, resulting from
the amendment to subsection (a) made by this amendatory Act of
the 91st General Assembly.
    (h) Those persons occupying positions with any department
as a result of emergency appointments pursuant to Section 8b.8
of the Personnel Code who are not considered employees under
this Act shall be given the option of participating in the
programs of group life insurance, health benefits and other
employee benefits. Such persons electing coverage may
participate only by making payment equal to the amount normally
contributed by the State for similarly situated employees. Such
amounts shall be determined by the Director. Such payments and
coverage may be continued until such time as the person becomes
an employee pursuant to this Act or such person's appointment
is terminated.
    (i) Any unit of local government within the State of
Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees,
annuitants, and their dependents provided group health
coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate,
a unit of local government must agree to enroll all of its
employees, who may select coverage under either the State group
health benefits plan or a health maintenance organization that
has contracted with the State to be available as a health care
provider for employees as defined in this Act. A unit of local
government must remit the entire cost of providing coverage
under the State group health benefits plan or, for coverage
under a health maintenance organization, an amount determined
by the Director based on an analysis of the sex, age,
geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables
for its employees, except that the unit of local government
shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are
covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group
policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an
appropriate official from the unit of local government attests
that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or
dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and
(2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the unit of
local government remits the entire cost of providing coverage
to those employees, except that a participating school district
must have enrolled at least 50% of its full-time employees who
have not waived coverage under the district's group health plan
by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria
plan. A participating school district is not required to enroll
a full-time employee who has waived coverage under the
district's health plan, provided that an appropriate official
from the participating school district attests that the
full-time employee has waived coverage by participating in a
component of the district's cafeteria plan. For the purposes of
this subsection, "participating school district" includes a
unit of local government whose primary purpose is education as
defined by the Department's rules.
    Employees of a participating unit of local government who
are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health
policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change
in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined
by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A
participating unit of local government may also elect to cover
its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an
optional basis, with the costs paid by the unit of local
government, its employees, or some combination of the two as
determined by the unit of local government. The unit of local
government shall be responsible for timely collection and
transmission of dependent premiums.
    The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of
payment, subject to the following constraints:
        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
    coverages or other contributory coverages, or contributed
    by the State for basic insurance coverages on behalf of its
    employees, adjusted for differences between State
    employees and employees of the local government in age,
    sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic
    variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the
    additional administrative costs of providing coverage to
    employees of the unit of local government and their
    dependents.
        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
    of the employees of the unit of local government.
    In the case of coverage of local government employees under
a health maintenance organization, the Director shall annually
determine for each participating unit of local government the
maximum monthly amount the unit may contribute toward that
coverage, based on an analysis of (i) the age, sex, geographic
location, and other relevant demographic variables of the
unit's employees and (ii) the cost to cover those employees
under the State group health benefits plan. The Director may
similarly determine the maximum monthly amount each unit of
local government may contribute toward coverage of its
employees' dependents under a health maintenance organization.
    Monthly payments by the unit of local government or its
employees for group health benefits plan or health maintenance
organization coverage shall be deposited in the Local
Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
    The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is
hereby created as a nonappropriated trust fund to be held
outside the State Treasury, with the State Treasurer as
custodian. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund
shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year
limitations. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve
Fund is not subject to administrative charges or charge-backs,
including but not limited to those authorized under Section 8h
of the State Finance Act. All revenues arising from the
administration of the health benefits program established
under this Section shall be deposited into the Local Government
Health Insurance Reserve Fund. Any interest earned on moneys in
the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be
deposited into the Fund. All expenditures from this Fund shall
be used for payments for health care benefits for local
government and rehabilitation facility employees, annuitants,
and dependents, and to reimburse the Department or its
administrative service organization for all expenses incurred
in the administration of benefits. No other State funds may be
used for these purposes.
    A local government employer's participation or desire to
participate in a program created under this subsection shall
not limit that employer's duty to bargain with the
representative of any collective bargaining unit of its
employees.
    (j) Any rehabilitation facility within the State of
Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees,
annuitants, and their eligible dependents provided group
health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To
participate, a rehabilitation facility must agree to enroll all
of its employees and remit the entire cost of providing such
coverage for its employees, except that the rehabilitation
facility shall not be required to enroll those of its employees
who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or
another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long
as (1) an appropriate official from the rehabilitation facility
attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or
dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and
(2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
rehabilitation facility remits the entire cost of providing
coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating
rehabilitation facility who are not enrolled due to coverage
under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the
event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment,
special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the
annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating rehabilitation
facility may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent
coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs
paid by the rehabilitation facility, its employees, or some
combination of the 2 as determined by the rehabilitation
facility. The rehabilitation facility shall be responsible for
timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.
    The Director shall annually determine quarterly rates of
payment, subject to the following constraints:
        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
    employees, adjusted for differences between State
    employees and employees of the rehabilitation facility in
    age, sex, geographic location or other relevant
    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage
    to employees of the rehabilitation facility and their
    dependents.
        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
    of the employees of the rehabilitation facility.
    Monthly payments by the rehabilitation facility or its
employees for group health benefits shall be deposited in the
Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
    (k) Any domestic violence shelter or service within the
State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its
employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group
health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To
participate, a domestic violence shelter or service must agree
to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of
providing such coverage for its employees. The domestic
violence shelter shall not be required to enroll those of its
employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan
or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as
long as (1) an appropriate official from the domestic violence
shelter attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered
spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or
plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
domestic violence shelter remits the entire cost of providing
coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating
domestic violence shelter who are not enrolled due to coverage
under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the
event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or
special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the
annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating domestic
violence shelter may also elect to cover its annuitants.
Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with
employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the
domestic violence shelter or service. The domestic violence
shelter or service shall be responsible for timely collection
and transmission of dependent premiums.
    The Director shall annually determine rates of payment,
subject to the following constraints:
        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
    employees, adjusted for differences between State
    employees and employees of the domestic violence shelter or
    service in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant
    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage
    to employees of the domestic violence shelter or service
    and their dependents.
        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
    of the employees of the domestic violence shelter or
    service.
    Monthly payments by the domestic violence shelter or
service or its employees for group health insurance shall be
deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve
Fund.
    (l) A public community college or entity organized pursuant
to the Public Community College Act may apply to the Director
initially to have only annuitants not covered prior to July 1,
1992 by the district's health plan provided health coverage
under this Act on a non-insured basis. The community college
must execute a 2-year contract to participate in the Local
Government Health Plan. Any annuitant may enroll in the event
of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special
circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual
Benefit Choice Period.
    The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of
payment subject to the following constraints: for those
community colleges with annuitants only enrolled, first year
rates shall be equal to the average cost to cover claims for a
State member adjusted for demographics, Medicare
participation, and other factors; and in the second year, a
further adjustment of rates shall be made to reflect the actual
first year's claims experience of the covered annuitants.
    (l-5) The provisions of subsection (l) become inoperative
on July 1, 1999.
    (m) The Director shall adopt any rules deemed necessary for
implementation of this amendatory Act of 1989 (Public Act
86-978).
    (n) Any child advocacy center within the State of Illinois
may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants,
and their dependents provided group health coverage under this
Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a child advocacy
center must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the
entire cost of providing coverage for its employees. The child
advocacy center shall not be required to enroll those of its
employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan
or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as
long as (1) an appropriate official from the child advocacy
center attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered
spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or
plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
child advocacy center remits the entire cost of providing
coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating child
advocacy center who are not enrolled due to coverage under
another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of
a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special
circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual
Benefit Choice Period. A participating child advocacy center
may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage
shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by
the child advocacy center, its employees, or some combination
of the 2 as determined by the child advocacy center. The child
advocacy center shall be responsible for timely collection and
transmission of dependent premiums.
    The Director shall annually determine rates of payment,
subject to the following constraints:
        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
    employees, adjusted for differences between State
    employees and employees of the child advocacy center in
    age, sex, geographic location, or other relevant
    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage
    to employees of the child advocacy center and their
    dependents.
        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
    of the employees of the child advocacy center.
    Monthly payments by the child advocacy center or its
employees for group health insurance shall be deposited into
the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-632, eff. 9-25-07;
95-707, eff. 1-11-08; 96-756, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 7/23/2010