Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5779
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Full Text of HB5779  99th General Assembly

HB5779 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  

 


 
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB5779

 

Introduced , by Rep. Randy Frese

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires the System to prepare and implement a Tier 3 plan by July 1, 2017 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a person who becomes a participant on or after July 1, 2017 shall participate in the Tier 3 plan. Provides that a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant may irrevocably elect to participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan; makes conforming changes. Authorizes a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant who elects to participate in the Tier 3 plan to elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account under the Tier 3 plan. Requires the System to report on its progress in establishing the Tier 3 plan to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 15, 2017. Excludes the amendatory Act from the new benefit increase restrictions. Repeals certain provisions concerning a defined contribution plan added by Public Act 98-599. Authorizes a participant to terminate his or her participation in the System. Makes related changes in the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) and the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Effective immediately.


LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5779LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971
5is amended by changing Sections 3 and 10 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 375/3)  (from Ch. 127, par. 523)
7    Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise
8requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act
9shall have the following meanings. The Department may define
10these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose of
11implementing specific programs providing benefits under this
12Act.
13    (a) "Administrative service organization" means any
14person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of
15claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and capable
16of meeting the service requirements of a contract of
17administration executed with the Department.
18    (b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or has
19retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate annuity
20under the provisions of Article Articles 2 (including an
21employee who, in lieu of receiving an annuity under that
22Article, has retired under the Tier 3 plan established under
23Section 2-165.5 of that Article), 14 (including an employee who

 

 

HB5779- 2 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1has elected to receive an alternative retirement cancellation
2payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code in
3lieu of an annuity), 15 (including an employee who has retired
4under the optional retirement program established under
5Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section
616-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) any
7person who was receiving group insurance coverage under this
8Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status as an
9annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which such
10coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on less
11than the minimum period of service required for a retirement
12annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not otherwise
13covered by this Act who has retired as a participating member
14under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible
15for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois
16Pension Code; (4) the spouse of any person who is receiving a
17retirement annuity under Article 18 of the Illinois Pension
18Code and who is covered under a group health insurance program
19sponsored by a governmental employer other than the State of
20Illinois and who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her
21coverage under this Act and to have his or her spouse
22considered as the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a
23"dependent"; or (5) an employee who retires, or has retired,
24from a qualified position, as determined according to rules
25promulgated by the Director, under a qualified local
26government, a qualified rehabilitation facility, a qualified

 

 

HB5779- 3 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1domestic violence shelter or service, or a qualified child
2advocacy center. (For definition of "retired employee", see (p)
3post).
4    (b-5) (Blank).
5    (b-6) (Blank).
6    (b-7) (Blank).
7    (c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a corporation
8organized under the Limited Health Service Organization Act or
9the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a partnership, or other
10nongovernmental organization, which is authorized to do group
11life or group health insurance business in Illinois, or (2) the
12State of Illinois as a self-insurer.
13    (d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a
14regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the
15State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or
16by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of
17the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any
18Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held by
19the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for
20personal services currently performed, and ordinary or
21accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15
22(including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under
23the optional retirement program established under Section
2415-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or
25Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability
26incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the

 

 

HB5779- 4 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or benefits
2payable under a sick pay plan established in accordance with
3Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Compensation" also means
4salary or wages paid to an employee of any qualified local
5government, qualified rehabilitation facility, qualified
6domestic violence shelter or service, or qualified child
7advocacy center.
8    (e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group Insurance
9Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. Commencing July 1,
101984, "Commission" as used in this Act means the Commission on
11Government Forecasting and Accountability as established by
12the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.
13    (f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory
14coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected by
15the member toward the cost of which such member makes
16contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through
17the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of
18an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from
19noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely by
20the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's salary.
21    (g) "Department" means any department, institution, board,
22commission, officer, court or any agency of the State
23government receiving appropriations and having power to
24certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of
25salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by the
26General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds

 

 

HB5779- 5 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of
2the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18
3of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" also includes the
4Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, the Board of
5Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting
6Act, and the Illinois Finance Authority.
7    (h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of
8the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any child
9(1) from birth to age 26 including an adopted child, a child
10who lives with the member from the time of the filing of a
11petition for adoption until entry of an order of adoption, a
12stepchild or adjudicated child, or a child who lives with the
13member if such member is a court appointed guardian of the
14child or (2) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical
15disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age
1626 if enrolled as an adult child dependent). For the health
17plan only, the term "dependent" also includes (1) any person
18enrolled prior to the effective date of this Section who is
19dependent upon the member to the extent that the member may
20claim such person as a dependent for income tax deduction
21purposes and (2) any person who has received after June 30,
222000 an organ transplant and who is financially dependent upon
23the member and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income
24tax purposes. A member requesting to cover any dependent must
25provide documentation as requested by the Department of Central
26Management Services and file with the Department any and all

 

 

HB5779- 6 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1forms required by the Department.
2    (i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
3Department of Central Management Services.
4    (j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a member
5has to elect enrollment in programs or to select benefits
6without regard to age, sex or health.
7    (k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or employee
8in the service of a department who (1) receives his
9compensation for service rendered to the department on a
10warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department
11or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a department upon
12a trust, federal or other fund or on a warrant issued pursuant
13to a payroll certified by an elected or duly appointed officer
14of the State or who receives payment of the performance of
15personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll
16certified by a Department and drawn by the Comptroller upon the
17State Treasurer against appropriations made by the General
18Assembly from any fund or against trust funds held by the State
19Treasurer, and (2) is employed full-time or part-time in a
20position normally requiring actual performance of duty during
21not less than 1/2 of a normal work period, as established by
22the Director in cooperation with each department, except that
23persons elected by popular vote will be considered employees
24during the entire term for which they are elected regardless of
25hours devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that
26"employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by

 

 

HB5779- 7 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1reason of such person's employment to participate in one of the
2State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either the
3regular Article 15 system or the optional retirement program
4established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under paragraph
5(2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois Pension
6Code, but such term does include persons who are employed
7during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 14 of the
8Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any person who
9(1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary or accidental
10disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including
11ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional
12retirement program established under Section 15-158.2),
13paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of
14the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after
15January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent or total
16temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or
17Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries sustained or
18illness contracted in the course of employment with the State
19of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered under this Act and
20has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the
21Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement
22annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code.
23However, a person who satisfies the criteria of the foregoing
24definition of "employee" except that such person is made
25ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement
26System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the

 

 

HB5779- 8 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1Illinois Pension Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of
2this Act. "Employee" also includes any person receiving or
3eligible for benefits under a sick pay plan established in
4accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee"
5also includes (i) each officer or employee in the service of a
6qualified local government, including persons appointed as
7trustees of sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to
8the service of the sanitary district, (ii) each employee in the
9service of a qualified rehabilitation facility, (iii) each
10full-time employee in the service of a qualified domestic
11violence shelter or service, and (iv) each full-time employee
12in the service of a qualified child advocacy center, as
13determined according to rules promulgated by the Director.
14    (l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired
15employee or survivor. In the case of an annuitant or retired
16employee who first becomes an annuitant or retired employee on
17or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th
18General Assembly, the individual must meet the minimum vesting
19requirements of the applicable retirement system in order to be
20eligible for group insurance benefits under that system. In the
21case of a survivor who first becomes a survivor on or after the
22effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General
23Assembly, the deceased employee, annuitant, or retired
24employee upon whom the annuity is based must have been eligible
25to participate in the group insurance system under the
26applicable retirement system in order for the survivor to be

 

 

HB5779- 9 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1eligible for group insurance benefits under that system.
2    (m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those coverages
3or benefits available to the member on his or her voluntary
4election, and at his or her own expense.
5    (n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health
6benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted
7for by the Director under this Act.
8    (o) "Health plan" means a health benefits program offered
9by the State of Illinois for persons eligible for the plan.
10    (p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an
11annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact that
12such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term also
13includes any person formerly employed by the University of
14Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an
15annuitant but for the fact that such person was made ineligible
16to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by
17clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois
18Pension Code.
19    (q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a
20survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also
21includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who satisfies
22the definition of "employee" except that such person is made
23ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement
24System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the
25Illinois Pension Code; (2) the surviving dependent of any
26person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the

 

 

HB5779- 10 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant except
2for the fact that such person was made ineligible to
3participate in the State Universities Retirement System by
4clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois
5Pension Code; and (3) the surviving dependent of a person who
6was an annuitant under this Act by virtue of receiving an
7alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section
814-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code.
9    (q-2) "SERS" means the State Employees' Retirement System
10of Illinois, created under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension
11Code.
12    (q-3) "SURS" means the State Universities Retirement
13System, created under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code.
14    (q-4) "TRS" means the Teachers' Retirement System of the
15State of Illinois, created under Article 16 of the Illinois
16Pension Code.
17    (q-5) (Blank).
18    (q-6) (Blank).
19    (q-7) (Blank).
20    (r) "Medical services" means the services provided within
21the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all categories
22licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.
23    (s) "Unit of local government" means any county,
24municipality, township, school district (including a
25combination of school districts under the Intergovernmental
26Cooperation Act), special district or other unit, designated as

 

 

HB5779- 11 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1a unit of local government by law, which exercises limited
2governmental powers or powers in respect to limited
3governmental subjects, any not-for-profit association with a
4membership that primarily includes townships and township
5officials, that has duties that include provision of research
6service, dissemination of information, and other acts for the
7purpose of improving township government, and that is funded
8wholly or partly in accordance with Section 85-15 of the
9Township Code; any not-for-profit corporation or association,
10with a membership consisting primarily of municipalities, that
11operates its own utility system, and provides research,
12training, dissemination of information, or other acts to
13promote cooperation between and among municipalities that
14provide utility services and for the advancement of the goals
15and purposes of its membership; the Southern Illinois
16Collegiate Common Market, which is a consortium of higher
17education institutions in Southern Illinois; the Illinois
18Association of Park Districts; and any hospital provider that
19is owned by a county that has 100 or fewer hospital beds and
20has not already joined the program. "Qualified local
21government" means a unit of local government approved by the
22Director and participating in a program created under
23subsection (i) of Section 10 of this Act.
24    (t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any
25not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the
26Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or

 

 

HB5779- 12 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor to
2the Department of Mental Health and Developmental
3Disabilities) to provide services to persons with disabilities
4and which receives funds from the State of Illinois for
5providing those services, approved by the Director and
6participating in a program created under subsection (j) of
7Section 10 of this Act.
8    (u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" means
9any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and its
10administrative offices funded by the Department of Human
11Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public
12Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program
13created under subsection (k) of Section 10.
14    (v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who:
15        (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and
16        (2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement
17    annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; and
18        (3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable
19    service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or
20    (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered
21    under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the
22    survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years of
23    creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension
24    Code or was enrolled in the health insurance program
25    offered under that Article on the effective date of this
26    amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or survivor

 

 

HB5779- 13 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    of a recipient of a disability benefit under Article 16 of
2    the Illinois Pension Code.
3    (w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who:
4        (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this
5    Section; and
6        (2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B)
7    dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or
8    her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) natural,
9    step, adjudicated, or adopted child who is (i) under age
10    26, (ii) was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a
11    dependent beneficiary in the health insurance program
12    offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or
13    (iii) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical
14    disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19
15    (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child).
16    "TRS dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated
17under paragraph (2) of this subsection (w), a dependent of the
18survivor of a TRS benefit recipient who first becomes a
19dependent of a survivor of a TRS benefit recipient on or after
20the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General
21Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for
22coverage as a dependent of the deceased TRS benefit recipient
23upon whom the survivor benefit is based.
24    (x) "Military leave" refers to individuals in basic
25training for reserves, special/advanced training, annual
26training, emergency call up, activation by the President of the

 

 

HB5779- 14 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1United States, or any other training or duty in service to the
2United States Armed Forces.
3    (y) (Blank).
4    (z) "Community college benefit recipient" means a person
5who:
6        (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and
7        (2) is receiving a monthly survivor's annuity or
8    retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension
9    Code; and
10        (3) either (i) was a full-time employee of a community
11    college district or an association of community college
12    boards created under the Public Community College Act
13    (other than an employee whose last employer under Article
14    15 of the Illinois Pension Code was a community college
15    district subject to Article VII of the Public Community
16    College Act) and was eligible to participate in a group
17    health benefit plan as an employee during the time of
18    employment with a community college district (other than a
19    community college district subject to Article VII of the
20    Public Community College Act) or an association of
21    community college boards, or (ii) is the survivor of a
22    person described in item (i).
23    (aa) "Community college dependent beneficiary" means a
24person who:
25        (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this
26    Section; and

 

 

HB5779- 15 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1        (2) is a community college benefit recipient's: (A)
2    spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half
3    of his or her support from the community college benefit
4    recipient, or (C) natural, step, adjudicated, or adopted
5    child who is (i) under age 26, or (ii) age 19 or over and
6    has a mental or physical disability from a cause
7    originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as
8    an adult child).
9    "Community college dependent beneficiary" does not
10include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection
11(aa), a dependent of the survivor of a community college
12benefit recipient who first becomes a dependent of a survivor
13of a community college benefit recipient on or after the
14effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General
15Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for
16coverage as a dependent of the deceased community college
17benefit recipient upon whom the survivor annuity is based.
18    (bb) "Qualified child advocacy center" means any Illinois
19child advocacy center and its administrative offices funded by
20the Department of Children and Family Services, as defined by
21the Children's Advocacy Center Act (55 ILCS 80/), approved by
22the Director and participating in a program created under
23subsection (n) of Section 10.
24(Source: P.A. 98-488, eff. 8-16-13; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
25    (5 ILCS 375/10)  (from Ch. 127, par. 530)

 

 

HB5779- 16 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    Sec. 10. Contributions by the State and members.
2    (a) The State shall pay the cost of basic non-contributory
3group life insurance and, subject to member paid contributions
4set by the Department or required by this Section and except as
5provided in this Section, the basic program of group health
6benefits on each eligible member, except a member, not
7otherwise covered by this Act, who has retired as a
8participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension
9Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section
102-119 of the Illinois Pension Code, and part of each eligible
11member's and retired member's premiums for health insurance
12coverage for enrolled dependents as provided by Section 9. The
13State shall pay the cost of the basic program of group health
14benefits only after benefits are reduced by the amount of
15benefits covered by Medicare for all members and dependents who
16are eligible for benefits under Social Security or the Railroad
17Retirement system or who had sufficient Medicare-covered
18government employment, except that such reduction in benefits
19shall apply only to those members and dependents who (1) first
20become eligible for such Medicare coverage on or after July 1,
211992; or (2) are Medicare-eligible members or dependents of a
22local government unit which began participation in the program
23on or after July 1, 1992; or (3) remain eligible for, but no
24longer receive Medicare coverage which they had been receiving
25on or after July 1, 1992. The Department may determine the
26aggregate level of the State's contribution on the basis of

 

 

HB5779- 17 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1actual cost of medical services adjusted for age, sex or
2geographic or other demographic characteristics which affect
3the costs of such programs.
4    The cost of participation in the basic program of group
5health benefits for the dependent or survivor of a living or
6deceased retired employee who was formerly employed by the
7University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service and
8would be an annuitant but for the fact that he or she was made
9ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement
10System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the
11Illinois Pension Code shall not be greater than the cost of
12participation that would otherwise apply to that dependent or
13survivor if he or she were the dependent or survivor of an
14annuitant under the State Universities Retirement System.
15    (a-1) (Blank).
16    (a-2) (Blank).
17    (a-3) (Blank).
18    (a-4) (Blank).
19    (a-5) (Blank).
20    (a-6) (Blank).
21    (a-7) (Blank).
22    (a-8) Any annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may
23waive or terminate coverage in the program of group health
24benefits. Any such annuitant, survivor, or retired employee who
25has waived or terminated coverage may enroll or re-enroll in
26the program of group health benefits only during the annual

 

 

HB5779- 18 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1benefit choice period, as determined by the Director; except
2that in the event of termination of coverage due to nonpayment
3of premiums, the annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may
4not re-enroll in the program.
5    (a-8.5) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory
6Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Director of Central
7Management Services shall, on an annual basis, determine the
8amount that the State shall contribute toward the basic program
9of group health benefits on behalf of annuitants (including
10individuals who (i) participated in the General Assembly
11Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System of
12Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System, the
13Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the
14Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as
15annuitants under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Act),
16survivors (including individuals who (i) receive an annuity as
17a survivor of an individual who participated in the General
18Assembly Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement
19System of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System,
20the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or
21the Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as
22survivors under subsection (q) of Section 3 of this Act), and
23retired employees (as defined in subsection (p) of Section 3 of
24this Act). The remainder of the cost of coverage for each
25annuitant, survivor, or retired employee, as determined by the
26Director of Central Management Services, shall be the

 

 

HB5779- 19 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1responsibility of that annuitant, survivor, or retired
2employee.
3    Contributions required of annuitants, survivors, and
4retired employees shall be the same for all retirement systems
5and shall also be based on whether an individual has made an
6election under Section 15-135.1 of the Illinois Pension Code.
7Contributions may be based on annuitants', survivors', or
8retired employees' Medicare eligibility, but may not be based
9on Social Security eligibility.
10    (a-9) No later than May 1 of each calendar year, the
11Director of Central Management Services shall certify in
12writing to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees'
13Retirement System of Illinois the amounts of the Medicare
14supplement health care premiums and the amounts of the health
15care premiums for all other retirees who are not Medicare
16eligible.
17    A separate calculation of the premiums based upon the
18actual cost of each health care plan shall be so certified.
19    The Director of Central Management Services shall provide
20to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement
21System of Illinois such information, statistics, and other data
22as he or she may require to review the premium amounts
23certified by the Director of Central Management Services.
24    The Department of Central Management Services, or any
25successor agency designated to procure healthcare contracts
26pursuant to this Act, is authorized to establish funds,

 

 

HB5779- 20 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1separate accounts provided by any bank or banks as defined by
2the Illinois Banking Act, or separate accounts provided by any
3savings and loan association or associations as defined by the
4Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to be held by the
5Director, outside the State treasury, for the purpose of
6receiving the transfer of moneys from the Local Government
7Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The Department may promulgate
8rules further defining the methodology for the transfers. Any
9interest earned by moneys in the funds or accounts shall inure
10to the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The
11transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall be used
12exclusively for transfers to administrative service
13organizations or their financial institutions for payments of
14claims to claimants and providers under the self-insurance
15health plan. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued
16thereon, shall not be used for any other purpose including, but
17not limited to, reimbursement of administration fees due the
18administrative service organization pursuant to its contract
19or contracts with the Department.
20    (a-10) For purposes of determining State contributions
21under this Section, service established under a Tier 3 plan
22under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code shall be included
23in determining an employee's creditable service. Any credit
24terminated as part of a transfer of contributions to a Tier 3
25plan under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code shall also be
26included in determining an employee's creditable service.

 

 

HB5779- 21 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    (b) State employees who become eligible for this program on
2or after January 1, 1980 in positions normally requiring actual
3performance of duty not less than 1/2 of a normal work period
4but not equal to that of a normal work period, shall be given
5the option of participating in the available program. If the
6employee elects coverage, the State shall contribute on behalf
7of such employee to the cost of the employee's benefit and any
8applicable dependent supplement, that sum which bears the same
9percentage as that percentage of time the employee regularly
10works when compared to normal work period.
11    (c) The basic non-contributory coverage from the basic
12program of group health benefits shall be continued for each
13employee not in pay status or on active service by reason of
14(1) leave of absence due to illness or injury, (2) authorized
15educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3)
16military leave. This coverage shall continue until expiration
17of authorized leave and return to active service, but not to
18exceed 24 months for leaves under item (1) or (2). This
1924-month limitation and the requirement of returning to active
20service shall not apply to persons receiving ordinary or
21accidental disability benefits or retirement benefits through
22the appropriate State retirement system or benefits under the
23Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Act.
24    (d) The basic group life insurance coverage shall continue,
25with full State contribution, where such person is (1) absent
26from active service by reason of disability arising from any

 

 

HB5779- 22 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1cause other than self-inflicted, (2) on authorized educational
2leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) on military leave.
3    (e) Where the person is in non-pay status for a period in
4excess of 30 days or on leave of absence, other than by reason
5of disability, educational or sabbatical leave, or military
6leave, such person may continue coverage only by making
7personal payment equal to the amount normally contributed by
8the State on such person's behalf. Such payments and coverage
9may be continued: (1) until such time as the person returns to
10a status eligible for coverage at State expense, but not to
11exceed 24 months or (2) until such person's employment or
12annuitant status with the State is terminated (exclusive of any
13additional service imposed pursuant to law).
14    (f) The Department shall establish by rule the extent to
15which other employee benefits will continue for persons in
16non-pay status or who are not in active service.
17    (g) The State shall not pay the cost of the basic
18non-contributory group life insurance, program of health
19benefits and other employee benefits for members who are
20survivors as defined by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection
21(q) of Section 3 of this Act. The costs of benefits for these
22survivors shall be paid by the survivors or by the University
23of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, or any combination
24thereof. However, the State shall pay the amount of the
25reduction in the cost of participation, if any, resulting from
26the amendment to subsection (a) made by this amendatory Act of

 

 

HB5779- 23 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1the 91st General Assembly.
2    (h) Those persons occupying positions with any department
3as a result of emergency appointments pursuant to Section 8b.8
4of the Personnel Code who are not considered employees under
5this Act shall be given the option of participating in the
6programs of group life insurance, health benefits and other
7employee benefits. Such persons electing coverage may
8participate only by making payment equal to the amount normally
9contributed by the State for similarly situated employees. Such
10amounts shall be determined by the Director. Such payments and
11coverage may be continued until such time as the person becomes
12an employee pursuant to this Act or such person's appointment
13is terminated.
14    (i) Any unit of local government within the State of
15Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees,
16annuitants, and their dependents provided group health
17coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate,
18a unit of local government must agree to enroll all of its
19employees, who may select coverage under either the State group
20health benefits plan or a health maintenance organization that
21has contracted with the State to be available as a health care
22provider for employees as defined in this Act. A unit of local
23government must remit the entire cost of providing coverage
24under the State group health benefits plan or, for coverage
25under a health maintenance organization, an amount determined
26by the Director based on an analysis of the sex, age,

 

 

HB5779- 24 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables
2for its employees, except that the unit of local government
3shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are
4covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group
5policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an
6appropriate official from the unit of local government attests
7that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or
8dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and
9(2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the unit of
10local government remits the entire cost of providing coverage
11to those employees, except that a participating school district
12must have enrolled at least 50% of its full-time employees who
13have not waived coverage under the district's group health plan
14by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria
15plan. A participating school district is not required to enroll
16a full-time employee who has waived coverage under the
17district's health plan, provided that an appropriate official
18from the participating school district attests that the
19full-time employee has waived coverage by participating in a
20component of the district's cafeteria plan. For the purposes of
21this subsection, "participating school district" includes a
22unit of local government whose primary purpose is education as
23defined by the Department's rules.
24    Employees of a participating unit of local government who
25are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health
26policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change

 

 

HB5779- 25 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined
2by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A
3participating unit of local government may also elect to cover
4its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an
5optional basis, with the costs paid by the unit of local
6government, its employees, or some combination of the two as
7determined by the unit of local government. The unit of local
8government shall be responsible for timely collection and
9transmission of dependent premiums.
10    The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of
11payment, subject to the following constraints:
12        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
13    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
14    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
15    coverages or other contributory coverages, or contributed
16    by the State for basic insurance coverages on behalf of its
17    employees, adjusted for differences between State
18    employees and employees of the local government in age,
19    sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic
20    variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the
21    additional administrative costs of providing coverage to
22    employees of the unit of local government and their
23    dependents.
24        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
25    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
26    of the employees of the unit of local government.

 

 

HB5779- 26 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    In the case of coverage of local government employees under
2a health maintenance organization, the Director shall annually
3determine for each participating unit of local government the
4maximum monthly amount the unit may contribute toward that
5coverage, based on an analysis of (i) the age, sex, geographic
6location, and other relevant demographic variables of the
7unit's employees and (ii) the cost to cover those employees
8under the State group health benefits plan. The Director may
9similarly determine the maximum monthly amount each unit of
10local government may contribute toward coverage of its
11employees' dependents under a health maintenance organization.
12    Monthly payments by the unit of local government or its
13employees for group health benefits plan or health maintenance
14organization coverage shall be deposited in the Local
15Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
16    The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is
17hereby created as a nonappropriated trust fund to be held
18outside the State Treasury, with the State Treasurer as
19custodian. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund
20shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year
21limitations. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve
22Fund is not subject to administrative charges or charge-backs,
23including but not limited to those authorized under Section 8h
24of the State Finance Act. All revenues arising from the
25administration of the health benefits program established
26under this Section shall be deposited into the Local Government

 

 

HB5779- 27 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1Health Insurance Reserve Fund. Any interest earned on moneys in
2the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be
3deposited into the Fund. All expenditures from this Fund shall
4be used for payments for health care benefits for local
5government and rehabilitation facility employees, annuitants,
6and dependents, and to reimburse the Department or its
7administrative service organization for all expenses incurred
8in the administration of benefits. No other State funds may be
9used for these purposes.
10    A local government employer's participation or desire to
11participate in a program created under this subsection shall
12not limit that employer's duty to bargain with the
13representative of any collective bargaining unit of its
14employees.
15    (j) Any rehabilitation facility within the State of
16Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees,
17annuitants, and their eligible dependents provided group
18health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To
19participate, a rehabilitation facility must agree to enroll all
20of its employees and remit the entire cost of providing such
21coverage for its employees, except that the rehabilitation
22facility shall not be required to enroll those of its employees
23who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or
24another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long
25as (1) an appropriate official from the rehabilitation facility
26attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or

 

 

HB5779- 28 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and
2(2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
3rehabilitation facility remits the entire cost of providing
4coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating
5rehabilitation facility who are not enrolled due to coverage
6under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the
7event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment,
8special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the
9annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating rehabilitation
10facility may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent
11coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs
12paid by the rehabilitation facility, its employees, or some
13combination of the 2 as determined by the rehabilitation
14facility. The rehabilitation facility shall be responsible for
15timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.
16    The Director shall annually determine quarterly rates of
17payment, subject to the following constraints:
18        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
19    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
20    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
21    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
22    employees, adjusted for differences between State
23    employees and employees of the rehabilitation facility in
24    age, sex, geographic location or other relevant
25    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
26    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage

 

 

HB5779- 29 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    to employees of the rehabilitation facility and their
2    dependents.
3        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
4    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
5    of the employees of the rehabilitation facility.
6    Monthly payments by the rehabilitation facility or its
7employees for group health benefits shall be deposited in the
8Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
9    (k) Any domestic violence shelter or service within the
10State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its
11employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group
12health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To
13participate, a domestic violence shelter or service must agree
14to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of
15providing such coverage for its employees. The domestic
16violence shelter shall not be required to enroll those of its
17employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan
18or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as
19long as (1) an appropriate official from the domestic violence
20shelter attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered
21spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or
22plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
23domestic violence shelter remits the entire cost of providing
24coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating
25domestic violence shelter who are not enrolled due to coverage
26under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the

 

 

HB5779- 30 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or
2special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the
3annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating domestic
4violence shelter may also elect to cover its annuitants.
5Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with
6employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the
7domestic violence shelter or service. The domestic violence
8shelter or service shall be responsible for timely collection
9and transmission of dependent premiums.
10    The Director shall annually determine rates of payment,
11subject to the following constraints:
12        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
13    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
14    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
15    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
16    employees, adjusted for differences between State
17    employees and employees of the domestic violence shelter or
18    service in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant
19    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
20    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage
21    to employees of the domestic violence shelter or service
22    and their dependents.
23        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
24    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
25    of the employees of the domestic violence shelter or
26    service.

 

 

HB5779- 31 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    Monthly payments by the domestic violence shelter or
2service or its employees for group health insurance shall be
3deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve
4Fund.
5    (l) A public community college or entity organized pursuant
6to the Public Community College Act may apply to the Director
7initially to have only annuitants not covered prior to July 1,
81992 by the district's health plan provided health coverage
9under this Act on a non-insured basis. The community college
10must execute a 2-year contract to participate in the Local
11Government Health Plan. Any annuitant may enroll in the event
12of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special
13circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual
14Benefit Choice Period.
15    The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of
16payment subject to the following constraints: for those
17community colleges with annuitants only enrolled, first year
18rates shall be equal to the average cost to cover claims for a
19State member adjusted for demographics, Medicare
20participation, and other factors; and in the second year, a
21further adjustment of rates shall be made to reflect the actual
22first year's claims experience of the covered annuitants.
23    (l-5) The provisions of subsection (l) become inoperative
24on July 1, 1999.
25    (m) The Director shall adopt any rules deemed necessary for
26implementation of this amendatory Act of 1989 (Public Act

 

 

HB5779- 32 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

186-978).
2    (n) Any child advocacy center within the State of Illinois
3may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants,
4and their dependents provided group health coverage under this
5Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a child advocacy
6center must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the
7entire cost of providing coverage for its employees. The child
8advocacy center shall not be required to enroll those of its
9employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan
10or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as
11long as (1) an appropriate official from the child advocacy
12center attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered
13spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or
14plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the
15child advocacy center remits the entire cost of providing
16coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating child
17advocacy center who are not enrolled due to coverage under
18another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of
19a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special
20circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual
21Benefit Choice Period. A participating child advocacy center
22may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage
23shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by
24the child advocacy center, its employees, or some combination
25of the 2 as determined by the child advocacy center. The child
26advocacy center shall be responsible for timely collection and

 

 

HB5779- 33 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1transmission of dependent premiums.
2    The Director shall annually determine rates of payment,
3subject to the following constraints:
4        (1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be
5    equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for
6    elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents
7    coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its
8    employees, adjusted for differences between State
9    employees and employees of the child advocacy center in
10    age, sex, geographic location, or other relevant
11    demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for
12    the additional administrative costs of providing coverage
13    to employees of the child advocacy center and their
14    dependents.
15        (2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be
16    made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience
17    of the employees of the child advocacy center.
18    Monthly payments by the child advocacy center or its
19employees for group health insurance shall be deposited into
20the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.
21(Source: P.A. 97-695, eff. 7-1-12; 98-488, eff. 8-16-13.)
 
22    Section 10. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by
23changing Sections 2-105.1, 2-117, 2-162, 20-121, 20-123,
2420-124, and 20-125 and by adding Sections 2-105.3 and 2-165.5
25as follows:
 

 

 

HB5779- 34 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    (40 ILCS 5/2-105.3 new)
2    Sec. 2-105.3. Tier 1 participant; Tier 2 participant; Tier
33 participant.
4    "Tier 1 participant": A participant who first became a
5participant before January 1, 2011.
6    In the case of a Tier 1 participant who elects to
7participate in the Tier 3 plan under Section 2-165.5 of this
8Code, that participant shall be deemed a Tier 1 participant
9only with respect to service performed or established before
10the effective date of that election.
11    "Tier 2 participant": A participant who first became a
12participant on or after January 1, 2011.
13    In the case of a Tier 2 participant who elects to
14participate in the Tier 3 plan under Section 2-165.5 of this
15Code, that Tier 2 participant shall be deemed a Tier 2
16participant only with respect to service performed or
17established before the effective date of that election.
18    "Tier 3 participant": A participant who becomes a
19participant on or after July 1, 2017; or A Tier 1 or Tier 2
20participant who elects to participate in the Tier 3 plan under
21Section 2-165.5 of this Code, but only with respect to service
22performed on or after the effective date of that election.
 
23    (40 ILCS 5/2-117)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-117)
24    Sec. 2-117. Participants - Election not to participate.

 

 

HB5779- 35 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), every Every
2person who was a member on November 1, 1947, or in military
3service on such date, is subject to the provisions of this
4system beginning upon such date, unless prior to such date he
5or she filed with the board a written notice of election not to
6participate.
7    Every person who becomes a member after November 1, 1947,
8and who is then not a participant becomes a participant
9beginning upon the date of becoming a member unless, within 24
10months from that date, he or she has filed with the board a
11written notice of election not to participate.
12    (b) A member who has filed notice of an election not to
13participate (and a former member who has not yet begun to
14receive a retirement annuity under this Article) may become a
15participant with respect to the period for which the member
16elected not to participate upon filing with the board, before
17April 1, 1993, a written rescission of the election not to
18participate. Upon contributing an amount equal to the
19contributions he or she would have made as a participant from
20November 1, 1947, or the date of becoming a member, whichever
21is later, to the date of becoming a participant, with interest
22at the rate of 4% per annum until the contributions are paid,
23the participant shall receive credit for service as a member
24prior to the date of the rescission, both before and after
25November 1, 1947. The required contributions shall be made
26before commencement of the retirement annuity; otherwise no

 

 

HB5779- 36 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1credit for service prior to the date of participation shall be
2granted.
3    (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, an
4active participant may terminate his or her participation in
5this System (including active participation in the Tier 3 plan,
6if applicable) by notifying the System in writing. An active
7participant terminating participation in this System under
8this subsection shall be entitled to a refund of his or her
9contributions (other than contributions to the Tier 3 plan
10under Section 2-165.5) minus the benefits received prior to the
11termination of participation.
12(Source: P.A. 86-273; 87-1265.)
 
13    (40 ILCS 5/2-162)
14    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599,
15which has been held unconstitutional)
16    Sec. 2-162. Application and expiration of new benefit
17increases.
18    (a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means
19an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this
20Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for
21any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment
22to this Code that takes effect after the effective date of this
23amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. "New benefit
24increase", however, does not include any benefit increase
25resulting from the changes made to this Article by this

 

 

HB5779- 37 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.
2    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any
3subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase
4is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted
5only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with
6the provisions of this Section.
7    (c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must
8identify and provide for payment to the System of additional
9funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual
10increase in cost to the System as it accrues.
11    Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General
12Assembly providing the additional funding required under this
13subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and
14Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional
15funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and
16shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the
17Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A new
18benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include
19the additional funding required under this subsection is null
20and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the
21additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under
22this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify
23to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence
24of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit
25increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which
26the certification is made.

 

 

HB5779- 38 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    (d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after
2its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified
3in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided
4under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General
5Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase
6by law.
7    (e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating
8the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires
9under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied
10and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit
11increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and
12alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any
13other person, including without limitation a person who
14continues in service after the expiration date and did not
15apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new
16benefit increase was in effect.
17(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05.)
 
18    (40 ILCS 5/2-165.5 new)
19    Sec. 2-165.5. Tier 3 plan.
20    (a) By July 1, 2017, the System shall prepare and implement
21a Tier 3 plan. The Tier 3 plan developed under this Section
22shall be a plan that aggregates State and employee
23contributions in individual participant accounts which, after
24meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after
25retirement in accordance with this Section and any other

 

 

HB5779- 39 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1applicable laws.
2    As used in this Section, "defined benefit plan" means the
3retirement plan available under this Article to Tier 1 or Tier
42 participants who have not made the election authorized under
5this Section.
6        (1) All persons who begin to participate in this System
7    on or after July 1, 2017 shall participate in the Tier 3
8    plan rather than the defined benefit plan.
9        (2) A participant in the Tier 3 plan shall pay
10    participant contributions at a rate determined by the
11    participant, but not less than 3% of salary and not more
12    than a percentage of salary determined by the Board in
13    accordance with the requirements of State and federal law.
14        (3) State contributions shall be paid into the accounts
15    of all participants in the Tier 3 plan at a uniform rate,
16    expressed as a percentage of salary and determined for each
17    year. This rate shall be no higher than 7.6% of salary and
18    shall be no lower than 3% of salary. The State shall adjust
19    this rate annually.
20        (4) The Tier 3 plan shall require 5 years of
21    participation in the Tier 3 plan before vesting in State
22    contributions. If the participant fails to vest in them,
23    the State contributions, and the earnings thereon, shall be
24    forfeited.
25        (5) The Tier 3 plan shall provide a variety of options
26    for investments. These options shall include investments

 

 

HB5779- 40 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well
2    as private sector investment options.
3        (6) The Tier 3 plan shall provide a variety of options
4    for payouts to participants in the Tier 3 plan who are no
5    longer active in the System and their survivors.
6        (7) To the extent authorized under federal law and as
7    authorized by the System, the plan shall allow former
8    participants in the plan to transfer or roll over
9    participant and vested State contributions, and the
10    earnings thereon, from the Tier 3 plan into other qualified
11    retirement plans.
12        (8) The System shall reduce the participant
13    contributions credited to the participant's Tier 3 plan
14    account by an amount determined by the System to cover the
15    cost of offering these benefits and any applicable
16    administrative fees.
17    (b) Under the Tier 3 plan, an active Tier 1 or Tier 2
18participant of this System may elect, in writing, to cease
19accruing benefits in the defined benefit plan and begin
20accruing benefits for future service in the Tier 3 plan. The
21election to participate in the Tier 3 plan is voluntary and
22irrevocable.
23        (1) Service credit under the Tier 3 plan may be used
24    for determining retirement eligibility under the defined
25    benefit plan.
26        (2) The System shall make a good faith effort to

 

 

HB5779- 41 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    contact all active Tier 1 and Tier 2 participants who are
2    eligible to participate in the Tier 3 plan. The System
3    shall mail information describing the option to join the
4    Tier 3 plan to each of these participants to his or her
5    last known address on file with the System. If the
6    participant is not responsive to other means of contact, it
7    is sufficient for the System to publish the details of the
8    option on its website.
9        (3) Upon request for further information describing
10    the option, the System shall provide participants with
11    information from the System before exercising the option to
12    join the plan, including information on the impact to their
13    benefits and service. The individual consultation shall
14    include projections of the participant's defined benefits
15    at retirement or earlier termination of service and the
16    value of the participant's account at retirement or earlier
17    termination of service. The System shall not provide advice
18    or counseling with respect to whether the participant
19    should exercise the option. The System shall inform Tier 1
20    and Tier 2 participants who are eligible to participate in
21    the Tier 3 plan that they may also wish to obtain
22    information and counsel relating to their option from any
23    other available source, including but not limited to
24    private counsel and financial advisors.
25    (b-5) A Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant who elects to
26participate in the Tier 3 plan may irrevocably elect to

 

 

HB5779- 42 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan. Upon
2that election, the System shall transfer to the participant's
3individual account an amount equal to the amount of
4contribution refund that the participant would be eligible to
5receive if the member terminated employment on that date and
6elected a refund of contributions, including the prescribed
7rate of interest for the respective years. The System shall
8make the transfer as a tax free transfer in accordance with
9Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding
10the amount credited to the participant's individual account.
11    (c) In no event shall the System, its staff, its authorized
12representatives, or the Board be liable for any information
13given to a participant under this Section. The System may
14coordinate with the Illinois Department of Central Management
15Services and other retirement systems administering a Tier 3
16plan in accordance with this amendatory Act of the 99th General
17Assembly to provide information concerning the impact of the
18Tier 3 plan set forth in this Section.
19    (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no
20person shall begin participating in the Tier 3 plan until it
21has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary
22approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
23    (e) The System shall report on its progress under this
24Section, including the available details of the Tier 3 plan and
25the System's plans for informing eligible Tier 1 and Tier 2
26participants about the plan, to the Governor and the General

 

 

HB5779- 43 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1Assembly on or before January 15, 2017.
2    (f) The Illinois State Board of Investment shall be the
3plan sponsor for the Tier 3 plan established under this
4Section.
5    (g) The intent of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
6Assembly is to ensure that the State's normal cost of
7participation in the Tier 3 plan is similar, and if possible
8equal, to the State's normal cost of participation in the
9defined benefit plan, unless a lower State's normal cost is
10necessary to ensure cost neutrality.
 
11    (40 ILCS 5/20-121)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-121)
12    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599,
13which has been held unconstitutional)
14    Sec. 20-121. Calculation of proportional retirement
15annuities.
16    (a) Upon retirement of the employee, a proportional
17retirement annuity shall be computed by each participating
18system in which pension credit has been established on the
19basis of pension credits under each system. The computation
20shall be in accordance with the formula or method prescribed by
21each participating system which is in effect at the date of the
22employee's latest withdrawal from service covered by any of the
23systems in which he has pension credits which he elects to have
24considered under this Article. However, the amount of any
25retirement annuity payable under the self-managed plan

 

 

HB5779- 44 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1established under Section 15-158.2 of this Code depends solely
2on the value of the participant's vested account balances and
3is not subject to any proportional adjustment under this
4Section.
5    (a-5) For persons who participate in a Tier 3 plan
6established under Article 2 of this Code to whom the provisions
7of this Article apply, the pension credits established under
8the Tier 3 plan may be considered in determining eligibility
9for or the amount of the defined benefit retirement annuity
10that is payable by any other participating system, but pension
11credits established in any other system shall not result in any
12right to or increase in the value of a retirement annuity under
13the Tier 3 plan, which depends solely on the options chosen and
14the value of the participant's vested account balances and is
15not subject to any proportional adjustment under this Section.
16    (b) Combined pension credit under all retirement systems
17subject to this Article shall be considered in determining
18whether the minimum qualification has been met and the formula
19or method of computation which shall be applied, except as may
20be otherwise provided with respect to vesting in State or
21employer contributions in a Tier 3 plan. If a system has a
22step-rate formula for calculation of the retirement annuity,
23pension credits covering previous service which have been
24established under another system shall be considered in
25determining which range or ranges of the step-rate formula are
26to be applicable to the employee.

 

 

HB5779- 45 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    (c) Interest on pension credit shall continue to accumulate
2in accordance with the provisions of the law governing the
3retirement system in which the same has been established during
4the time an employee is in the service of another employer, on
5the assumption such employee, for interest purposes for pension
6credit, is continuing in the service covered by such retirement
7system.
8(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)
 
9    (40 ILCS 5/20-123)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-123)
10    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599,
11which has been held unconstitutional)
12    Sec. 20-123. Survivor's annuity. The provisions governing
13a retirement annuity shall be applicable to a survivor's
14annuity. Appropriate credits shall be established for
15survivor's annuity purposes in those participating systems
16which provide survivor's annuities, according to the same
17conditions and subject to the same limitations and restrictions
18herein prescribed for a retirement annuity. If a participating
19system has no survivor's annuity benefit, or if the survivor's
20annuity benefit under that system is waived, pension credit
21established in that system shall not be considered in
22determining eligibility for or the amount of the survivor's
23annuity which may be payable by any other participating system.
24    For persons who participate in the self-managed plan
25established under Section 15-158.2 or the portable benefit

 

 

HB5779- 46 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1package established under Section 15-136.4, pension credit
2established under Article 15 may be considered in determining
3eligibility for or the amount of the survivor's annuity that is
4payable by any other participating system, but pension credit
5established in any other system shall not result in any right
6to a survivor's annuity under the Article 15 system.
7    For persons who participate in a Tier 3 plan established
8under Article 2 of this Code to whom the provisions of this
9Article apply, the pension credits established under the Tier 3
10plan may be considered in determining eligibility for or the
11amount of the defined benefit survivor's annuity that is
12payable by any other participating system, but pension credits
13established in any other system shall not result in any right
14to or increase in the value of a survivor's annuity under the
15Tier 3 plan, which depends solely on the options chosen and the
16value of the participant's vested account balances and is not
17subject to any proportional adjustment under this Section.
18(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)
 
19    (40 ILCS 5/20-124)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-124)
20    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599,
21which has been held unconstitutional)
22    Sec. 20-124. Maximum benefits.
23    (a) In no event shall the combined retirement or survivors
24annuities exceed the highest annuity which would have been
25payable by any participating system in which the employee has

 

 

HB5779- 47 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1pension credits, if all of his pension credits had been
2validated in that system.
3    If the combined annuities should exceed the highest maximum
4as determined in accordance with this Section, the respective
5annuities shall be reduced proportionately according to the
6ratio which the amount of each proportional annuity bears to
7the aggregate of all such annuities.
8    (b) In the case of a participant in the self-managed plan
9established under Section 15-158.2 of this Code to whom the
10provisions of this Article apply:
11        (i) For purposes of calculating the combined
12    retirement annuity and the proportionate reduction, if
13    any, in a retirement annuity other than one payable under
14    the self-managed plan, the amount of the Article 15
15    retirement annuity shall be deemed to be the highest
16    annuity to which the annuitant would have been entitled if
17    he or she had participated in the traditional benefit
18    package as defined in Section 15-103.1 rather than the
19    self-managed plan.
20        (ii) For purposes of calculating the combined
21    survivor's annuity and the proportionate reduction, if
22    any, in a survivor's annuity other than one payable under
23    the self-managed plan, the amount of the Article 15
24    survivor's annuity shall be deemed to be the highest
25    survivor's annuity to which the survivor would have been
26    entitled if the deceased employee had participated in the

 

 

HB5779- 48 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1    traditional benefit package as defined in Section 15-103.1
2    rather than the self-managed plan.
3        (iii) Benefits payable under the self-managed plan are
4    not subject to proportionate reduction under this Section.
5    (c) In the case of a participant in a Tier 3 plan
6established under Article 2 of this Code to whom the provisions
7of this Article apply:
8        (i) For purposes of calculating the combined
9    retirement annuity and the proportionate reduction, if
10    any, in a defined benefit retirement annuity, any benefit
11    payable under the Tier 3 plan shall not be considered.
12        (ii) For purposes of calculating the combined
13    survivor's annuity and the proportionate reduction, if
14    any, in a defined benefit survivor's annuity, any benefit
15    payable under the Tier 3 plan shall not be considered.
16        (iii) Benefits payable under a Tier 3 plan established
17    under Article 2 of this Code are not subject to
18    proportionate reduction under this Section.
19(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)
 
20    (40 ILCS 5/20-125)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-125)
21    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599,
22which has been held unconstitutional)
23    Sec. 20-125. Return to employment - suspension of benefits.
24If a retired employee returns to employment which is covered by
25a system from which he is receiving a proportional annuity

 

 

HB5779- 49 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1under this Article, his proportional annuity from all
2participating systems shall be suspended during the period of
3re-employment, except that this suspension does not apply to
4any distributions payable under the self-managed plan
5established under Section 15-158.2 of this Code or under a Tier
63 plan established under Article 2 of this Code.
7    The provisions of the Article under which such employment
8would be covered shall govern the determination of whether the
9employee has returned to employment, and if applicable the
10exemption of temporary employment or employment not exceeding a
11specified duration or frequency, for all participating systems
12from which the retired employee is receiving a proportional
13annuity under this Article, notwithstanding any contrary
14provisions in the other Articles governing such systems.
15(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)
 
16    (40 ILCS 5/2-165 rep.)
17    (40 ILCS 5/2-166 rep.)
18    Section 15. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by
19repealing Sections 2-165 and 2-166.
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.

 

 

HB5779- 50 -LRB099 17785 RPS 42147 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    5 ILCS 375/3from Ch. 127, par. 523
4    5 ILCS 375/10from Ch. 127, par. 530
5    40 ILCS 5/2-105.3 new
6    40 ILCS 5/2-117from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-117
7    40 ILCS 5/2-162
8    40 ILCS 5/2-165.5 new
9    40 ILCS 5/20-121from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-121
10    40 ILCS 5/20-123from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-123
11    40 ILCS 5/20-124from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-124
12    40 ILCS 5/20-125from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-125
13    40 ILCS 5/2-165 rep.
14    40 ILCS 5/2-166 rep.