(70 ILCS 705/16.13a) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 37.13a)

Sec. 16.13a.

When the force of the Fire Department is reduced, and
positions displaced or abolished, seniority shall prevail, and the officers
and members so reduced in rank or removed from the service of the Fire
Department shall be considered furloughed without pay.

Such reductions and removals shall be in strict compliance with
seniority and in no event shall any officer or member be reduced more than
one rank in a reduction of force.  Officers and members with the least
seniority in the position to be reduced shall be reduced to the next lower
rated position.  For purposes of determining which officers and members
will be reduced in rank, seniority shall be determined by adding the time
spent at the rank or position from which the officer or member is to be
reduced and the time spent at any higher rank or position in the
Department.  For purposes of determining which officers or members in the
lowest rank or position shall be removed from the Department in the event
of a layoff, length of service in the Department shall be the basis for
determining seniority, with the least senior such officer or member being
the first so removed and laid off.  Such officers or members laid off shall
have their names placed on an appropriate reemployment list in the reverse
order of dates of layoff.

If any positions which have been vacated because of reduction in forces
or displacement and abolition of positions are reinstated, such members
and officers of the Fire Department as are furloughed from the position
shall be notified by the board by registered mail of such reinstatement
of positions and shall have prior right to such positions if otherwise
qualified, and in all cases seniority shall prevail.  Written application
for such reinstated position must be made by the furloughed person within
30 days after notification as above provided and such person may be
required to submit to examination by physicians of the board of fire
commissioners to determine his physical fitness.

(Source: P.A. 86-562.)