HB2497 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 08024 RPS 18107 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2497

Introduced , by Rep. Robert Martwick

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

40 ILCS 5/18-125	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-125
40 ILCS 5/18-126.1	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-126.1
40 ILCS 5/18-128.01	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-128.01
40 ILCS 5/18-133	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-133

Amends the Judges Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning the retirement annuity amount, specifies that the maximum annual salary of $106,800 is for all purposes under the Article; makes a related change in provisions concerning temporary total disability benefits. Provides that if 2 or more persons are eligible to receive survivor's annuities based on the same deceased participant that first serves as a judge after January 1, 2011, the calculation of the survivor's annuities shall be based on the total calculation of the survivor's annuity and divided pro rata. Makes changes in provisions concerning employee contributions to clarify to whom certain provisions apply. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Sections 18-125, 18-126.1, 18-128.01, and 18-133 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/18-125) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-125)

Sec. 18-125. Retirement annuity amount.

(a) The annual retirement annuity for a participant who terminated service as a judge prior to July 1, 1971 shall be based on the law in effect at the time of termination of service.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (b-5), effective July 1, 1971, the retirement annuity for any participant in service on or after such date shall be 3 1/2% of final average salary, as defined in this Section, for each of the first 10 years of service, and 5% of such final average salary for each year of service in on excess of 10.

For purposes of this Section, final average salary for a participant who first serves as a judge before August 10, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-207) shall be:

(1) the average salary for the last 4 years of credited service as a judge for a participant who terminates service before July 1, 1975.

(2) for a participant who terminates service after June 30, 1975 and before July 1, 1982, the salary on the last day of employment as a judge.

(3) for any participant who terminates service after June 30, 1982 and before January 1, 1990, the average salary for the final year of service as a judge.

(4) for a participant who terminates service on or after January 1, 1990 but before July 14, 1995 (the effective date of Public Act 89-136) this amendatory Act of 1995, the salary on the last day of employment as a judge.

(5) for a participant who terminates service on or after July 14, 1995 (the effective date of Public Act 89-136) this amendatory Act of 1995, the salary on the last day of employment as a judge, or the highest salary received by the participant for employment as a judge in a position held by the participant for at least 4 consecutive years, whichever is greater.

However, in the case of a participant who elects to discontinue contributions as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of Section 18-133, the time of such election shall be considered the last day of employment in the determination of final average salary under this subsection.

For a participant who first serves as a judge on or after August 10, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-207) and before January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889), final average salary shall be the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the participant during the period of: (1) the 48 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total compensation was the highest, or (2) the total period of service, if less than 48 months, by the number of months of service in that period.

The maximum retirement annuity for any participant shall be 85% of final average salary.

(b-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, for a participant who first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889), the annual retirement annuity is 3% of the participant's final average salary for each year of service. The maximum retirement annuity payable shall be 60% of the participant's final average salary.

For a participant who first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889), final average salary shall be the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the judge during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest by the number of months of service in that period; however, beginning January 1, 2011, the annual salary for all purposes under this Article may not exceed $106,800, except that that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount, including all previous adjustments, or (ii) the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1. "Consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the Board by November 1st of each year.

(c) The retirement annuity for a participant who retires prior to age 60 with less than 28 years of service in the System shall be reduced 1/2 of 1% for each month that the participant's age is under 60 years at the time the annuity commences. However, for a participant who retires on or after December 10, 1999 (the effective date of Public Act 91-653) this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, the percentage reduction in retirement annuity imposed under this subsection shall be reduced by 5/12 of 1% for every month of service in this System in excess of 20 years, and therefore a participant with at least 26 years of service in this System may retire at age 55 without any reduction in annuity.

The reduction in retirement annuity imposed by this subsection shall not apply in the case of retirement on account of disability.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, for a participant who first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889) and who is retiring after attaining age 62, the retirement annuity shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% for each month that the participant's age is under age 67 at the time the annuity commences.

(Source: P.A. 96-207, eff. 8-10-09; 96-889, eff. 1-1-11; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 96-1490, eff. 1-1-11; revised 9-9-16.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-126.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-126.1)

Sec. 18-126.1. Temporary total disability. A participant who has served for at least 2 years as a judge and has at least 2 years of service credit shall be entitled to a temporary total disability benefit provided:

(1) While in employment as a judge, the participant is found by medical examination to be mentally or physically incompetent to perform his or her duties;

(2) The participant does not receive or have a right to receive any salary as a judge;

(3) The board has received written certifications by at least 2 licensed and practicing physicians designated by it certifying that the participant is totally disabled and unable to perform the duties of his or her office as a consequence thereof; and

(4) The participant is not engaged in any form of gainful occupation during his or her disability.

The benefit shall begin as of the day following the removal of the judge from the payroll on account of the disability and be payable during the period of disability but not beyond the term of office for which the participant was last elected or appointed.

The benefit shall be 50% of the participant's rate of salary in effect at the date of removal from the payroll and shall be payable monthly. The rate of salary to determine the benefit under this Section payable to a participant who first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 201l shall be subject to the annual salary limitation prescribed by subsection (b-5) of Section 18-125.

A participant shall receive service credit for retirement and survivor's annuity purposes for the period that temporary disability benefits are paid.

The board shall prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the administration of this benefit.

(Source: P.A. 83-1440.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-128.01) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-128.01)

Sec. 18-128.01. Amount of survivor's annuity.

(a) Upon the death of an annuitant, his or her surviving spouse shall be entitled to a survivor's annuity of 66 2/3% of the annuity the annuitant was receiving immediately prior to his or her death, inclusive of annual increases in the retirement annuity to the date of death.

(b) Upon the death of an active participant, his or her surviving spouse shall receive a survivor's annuity of 66 2/3% of the annuity earned by the participant as of the date of his or her death, determined without regard to whether the participant had attained age 60 as of that time, or 7 1/2% of the last salary of the decedent, whichever is greater.

(c) Upon the death of a participant who had terminated service with at least 10 years of service, his or her surviving spouse shall be entitled to a survivor's annuity of 66 2/3% of the annuity earned by the deceased participant at the date of death.

(d) Upon the death of an annuitant, active participant, or participant who had terminated service with at least 10 years of service, each surviving child under the age of 18 or disabled as defined in Section 18-128 shall be entitled to a child's annuity in an amount equal to 5% of the decedent's final salary, not to exceed in total for all such children the greater of 20% of the decedent's last salary or 66 2/3% of the annuity received or earned by the decedent as provided under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section. This child's annuity shall be paid whether or not a survivor's annuity was elected under Section 18-123.

(e) The changes made in the survivor's annuity provisions by Public Act 82-306 shall apply to the survivors of a deceased participant or annuitant whose death occurs on or after August 21, 1981.

(f) Beginning January 1, 1990, every survivor's annuity shall be increased (1) on each January 1 occurring on or after the commencement of the annuity if the deceased member died while receiving a retirement annuity, or (2) in other cases, on each January 1 occurring on or after the first anniversary of the commencement of the annuity, by an amount equal to 3% of the current amount of the annuity, including any previous increases under this Article. Such increases shall apply without regard to whether the deceased member was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991, but shall not accrue for any period prior to January 1, 1990.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the initial survivor's annuity for a survivor of a participant who first serves as a judge after January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889) shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the annuity received or earned by the decedent, and shall be increased (1) on each January 1 occurring on or after the commencement of the annuity if the deceased participant died while receiving a retirement annuity, or (2) in other cases, on each January 1 occurring on or after the first anniversary of the commencement of the annuity, but in no event prior to age 67, by an amount equal to 3% or the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u as determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance under subsection (b-5) of Section 18-125, whichever is less, of the survivor's annuity then being paid. If 2 or more persons are eligible to receive survivor's annuities as provided under this Section based on the same deceased participant that first serves as a judge after January 1, 2011, the calculation of the survivor's annuities shall be based on the total calculation of the survivor's annuity and divided pro rata.

(Source: P.A. 96-889, eff. 1-1-11; 96-1490, eff. 1-1-11.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-133) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-133)

Sec. 18-133. Financing; employee contributions.

(a) Effective July 1, 1967, each participant is required to contribute 7 1/2% of each payment of salary toward the retirement annuity. Such contributions shall continue during the entire time the participant is in service, with the following exceptions:

(1) Contributions for the retirement annuity are not required on salary received after 18 years of service by persons who were participants before January 2, 1954.

(2) A participant who continues to serve as a judge after becoming eligible to receive the maximum rate of annuity may elect, through a written direction filed with the Board, to discontinue contributing to the System. Any such option elected by a judge shall be irrevocable unless prior to January 1, 2000, and while continuing to serve as judge, the judge (A) files with the Board a letter cancelling the direction to discontinue contributing to the System and requesting that such contributing resume, and (B) pays into the System an amount equal to the total of the discontinued contributions plus interest thereon at 5% per annum. Service credits earned in any other "participating system" as defined in Article 20 of this Code shall be considered for purposes of determining a judge's eligibility to discontinue contributions under this subdivision (a)(2).

(3) A participant who (i) first serves as a judge before January 1, 2011 and has attained age 60, or first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 2011 and has attained age 67, (ii) continues to serve as a judge after becoming eligible to receive the maximum rate of annuity, and (iii) has not elected to discontinue contributing to the System under subdivision (a)(2) of this Section (or has revoked any such election) may elect, through a written direction filed with the Board, to make contributions to the System based only on the amount of the increases in salary received by the judge on or after the date of the election, rather than the total salary received. If a judge who is making contributions to the System on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly makes an election to limit contributions under this subdivision (a)(3) within 90 days after that effective date, the election shall be deemed to become effective on that effective date and the judge shall be entitled to receive a refund of any excess contributions paid to the System during that 90-day period; any other election under this subdivision (a)(3) becomes effective on the first of the month following the date of the election. An election to limit contributions under this subdivision (a)(3) is irrevocable. Service credits earned in any other participating system as defined in Article 20 of this Code shall be considered for purposes of determining a judge's eligibility to make an election under this subdivision (a)(3).

(b) Beginning July 1, 1969, each participant is required to contribute 1% of each payment of salary towards the automatic increase in annuity provided in Section 18-125.1. However, such contributions need not be made by any participant who has elected prior to September 15, 1969, not to be subject to the automatic increase in annuity provisions.

(c) Effective July 13, 1953, each married participant subject to the survivor's annuity provisions is required to contribute 2 1/2% of each payment of salary, whether or not he or she is required to make any other contributions under this Section. Such contributions shall be made concurrently with the contributions made for annuity purposes.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the required contributions for a participant who first becomes a participant on or after January 1, 2011 shall not exceed the contributions that would be due under this Article if that participant's highest salary for annuity purposes were $106,800, plus any increase in that amount under Section 18-125.

(Source: P.A. 96-1490, eff. 1-1-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.