093_HB0079eng HB0079 Engrossed LRB093 03474 EFG 03502 b 1 AN ACT in relation to public employee benefits. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by 5 adding Section 16-153.5 as follows: 6 (40 ILCS 5/16-153.5 new) 7 Sec. 16-153.5. Election of medicare coverage. 8 (a) The System shall conduct a divided medicare coverage 9 referendum, open to teachers continuously employed by the 10 same employer since March 31, 1986. The referendum shall be 11 conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of 12 federal law and Article 21 of this Code. 13 (b) As used in this Section and in compliance with 14 federal law, "referendum" means the process whereby teachers 15 are granted the opportunity to make an irrevocable individual 16 election to participate in the medicare program on a 17 prospective basis. 18 (c) Employers shall pay the necessary employer 19 contributions and make the necessary deductions from salary 20 for teachers who elect to participate in the federal medicare 21 program under this Section, as required by the System, 22 Article 21 of this Code, and federal law. 23 Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding 24 Section 8.27 as follows: 25 (30 ILCS 805/8.27 new) 26 Sec. 8.27. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 27 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required 28 for the implementation of any mandate created by this 29 amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. HB0079 Engrossed -2- LRB093 03474 EFG 03502 b 1 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 2 becoming law.