SB1960eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1960 Engrossed LRB095 16318 AMC 42342 b

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 7-141, 7-142, and 7-174 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/7-141) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-141)

Sec. 7-141. Retirement annuities - Conditions. Retirement annuities shall be payable as hereinafter set forth:

(a) A participating employee who, regardless of cause, is separated from the service of all participating municipalities and instrumentalities thereof and participating instrumentalities shall be entitled to a retirement annuity provided:

1. He is at least age 55, or in the case of a person who is eligible to have his annuity calculated under Section 7-142.1, he is at least age 50;

2. He is (i) an employee who was employed by any participating municipality or participating instrumentality which had not elected to exclude persons employed in positions normally requiring performance of duty for less than 1000 hours per year or was employed in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 600 hours or more per year prior to such election by any participating municipality or participating instrumentality included in and subject to this Article on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1981 which made such election and is not entitled to receive earnings for employment in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 600 hours or more per year for any participating municipality and instrumentalities thereof and participating instrumentality; or (ii) an employee who was employed only by a participating municipality or participating instrumentality, or participating municipalities or participating instrumentalities, which have elected to exclude persons in positions normally requiring performance of duty for less than 1000 hours per year after the effective date of such exclusion or which are included under and subject to the Article after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1981 and elects to exclude persons in such positions, and is not entitled to receive earnings for employment in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 1000 hours or more per year by such a participating municipality or participating instrumentality;

3. The amount of his annuity, before the application of paragraph (b) of Section 7-142 is at least $10 per month;

4. If he first became a participating employee after December 31, 1961, he has at least 5 8 years of service. This service requirement shall not apply to any participating employee, regardless of participation date, if the General Assembly terminates the Fund.

(b) Retirement annuities shall be payable:

1. As provided in Section 7-119;

2. Except as provided in item 3, upon receipt by the fund of a written application. The effective date may be not more than one year prior to the date of the receipt by the fund of the application;

3. Upon attainment of age 70 1/2 if the member (i) is no longer in service, and (ii) is otherwise entitled to an annuity under this Article;

4. To the beneficiary of the deceased annuitant for the unpaid amount accrued to date of death, if any.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-142) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142)

Sec. 7-142. Retirement annuities - Amount.

(a) The amount of a retirement annuity shall be the sum of the following, determined in accordance with the actuarial tables in effect at the time of the grant of the annuity:

1. For employees with 5 8 or more years of service, an annuity computed pursuant to subparagraphs a or b of this subparagraph 1, whichever is the higher, and for employees with less than 5 8 years of service the annuity computed pursuant to subparagraph a:

a. The monthly annuity which can be provided from the total accumulated normal, municipality and prior service credits, as of the attained age of the employee on the date the annuity begins provided that such annuity shall not exceed 75% of the final rate of earnings of the employee.

b. (i) The monthly annuity amount determined as follows by multiplying (a) 1 2/3% for annuitants with not more than 15 years or (b) 1 2/3% for the first 15 years and 2% for each year in excess of 15 years for annuitants with more than 15 years by the number of years plus fractional years, prorated on a basis of months, of creditable service and multiply the product thereof by the employee's final rate of earnings.

(ii) For the sole purpose of computing the formula (and not for the purposes of the limitations hereinafter stated) $125 shall be considered the final rate of earnings in all cases where the final rate of earnings is less than such amount.

(iii) The monthly annuity computed in accordance with this subparagraph b, shall not exceed an amount equal to 75% of the final rate of earnings.

(iv) For employees who have less than 35 years of service, the annuity computed in accordance with this subparagraph b (as reduced by application of subparagraph (iii) above) shall be reduced by 0.25% thereof (0.5% if service was terminated before January 1, 1988) for each month or fraction thereof (1) that the employee's age is less than 60 years, or (2) if the employee has at least 30 years of service credit, that the employee's service credit is less than 35 years, whichever is less, on the date the annuity begins.

2. The annuity which can be provided from the total accumulated additional credits as of the attained age of the employee on the date the annuity begins.

(b) If payment of an annuity begins prior to the earliest age at which the employee will become eligible for an old age insurance benefit under the Federal Social Security Act, he may elect that the annuity payments from this fund shall exceed those payable after his attaining such age by an amount, computed as determined by rules of the Board, but not in excess of his estimated Social Security Benefit, determined as of the effective date of the annuity, provided that in no case shall the total annuity payments made by this fund exceed in actuarial value the annuity which would have been payable had no such election been made.

(c) The retirement annuity shall be increased each year by 2%, not compounded, of the monthly amount of annuity, taking into consideration any adjustment under paragraph (b) of this Section. This increase shall be effective each January 1 and computed from the effective date of the retirement annuity, the first increase being .167% of the monthly amount times the number of months from the effective date to January 1. Beginning January 1, 1984 and thereafter, the retirement annuity shall be increased by 3% each year, not compounded. This increase shall not be applicable to annuitants who are not in service on or after September 8, 1971.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-174) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-174)

Sec. 7-174. Board created.

(a) A board of 8 members shall constitute a board of trustees authorized to carry out the provisions of this Article. Each trustee shall be a participating employee of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality or an annuitant of the Fund and no person shall be eligible to become a trustee after January 1, 1979 who does not have at least 5 8 years of creditable service.

(b) The board shall consist of representatives of various groups as follows:

1. 4 trustees shall be a chief executive officer, chief finance officer, or other officer, executive or department head of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality, and each such trustee shall be designated as an executive trustee.

2. 3 trustees shall be employees of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality and each such trustee shall be designated as an employee trustee.

3. One trustee shall be an annuitant of the Fund, who shall be designated the annuitant trustee.

(c) A person elected as a trustee shall qualify as a trustee, after declaration by the board that he has been duly elected, upon taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of office and filing same in the office of the Fund.

(d) The term of office of each trustee shall begin upon January 1 of the year following the year in which he is elected and shall continue for a period of 5 years and until a successor has been elected and qualified, or until prior resignation, death, incapacity or disqualification.

(e) Any elected trustee (other than the annuitant trustee) shall be disqualified immediately upon termination of employment with all participating municipalities and instrumentalities thereof or upon any change in status which removes any such trustee from all employments within the group he represents. The annuitant trustee shall be disqualified upon termination of his or her annuity.

(f) The trustees shall fill any vacancy in the board by appointment, for the period until the next election of trustees, or, if the remaining term is less than 2 years, for the remainder of the term, and until his successor has been elected and qualified.

(g) Trustees shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the board and in performing duties on behalf of the Fund and for the amount of any earnings withheld by any employing municipality or participating instrumentality because of attendance at any board meeting.

(h) Each trustee other than the annuitant trustee shall be entitled to one vote on any and all actions before the board; the annuitant trustee is not entitled to vote on any matter. At least 4 concurring votes shall be necessary for every decision or action by the board at any of its meetings. No decision or action shall become effective unless presented and so approved at a regular or duly called special meeting of the board.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.32 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.32 new)

Sec. 8.32. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

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