HB6298enr 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB6298 Enrolled LRB099 19814 RPS 44213 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 17-143.5 and 17-149 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/17-143.5 new)

Sec. 17-143.5. Testimony and the production of records. The Board shall have the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and records in conjunction with the determination of employer payments required under subsection (c) of Section 17-116, a disability claim, an administrative review proceeding, an attempt to obtain information to assist in the collection of sums due to the Fund, or a felony forfeiture investigation. The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as the fees of witnesses before the circuit courts of this State and shall be paid by the party seeking the subpoena. The Board may apply to any circuit court in the State for an order requiring compliance with a subpoena issued under this Section. Subpoenas issued under this Section shall be subject to applicable provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(40 ILCS 5/17-149) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-149)

Sec. 17-149. Cancellation of pensions.

(a) If any person receiving a disability retirement pension from the Fund is re-employed as a teacher by an Employer, the pension shall be cancelled on the date the re-employment begins, or on the first day of a payroll period for which service credit was validated, whichever is earlier.

(b) If any person receiving a service retirement pension from the Fund is re-employed as a teacher on a permanent or annual basis by an Employer, the pension shall be cancelled on the date the re-employment begins, or on the first day of a payroll period for which service credit was validated, whichever is earlier. However, subject to the limitations and requirements of subsection (c-5), the pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis.

(c) If the date of re-employment on a permanent or annual basis occurs within 5 school months after the date of previous retirement, exclusive of any vacation period, the member shall be deemed to have been out of service only temporarily and not permanently retired. Such person shall be entitled to pension payments for the time he could have been employed as a teacher and received salary, but shall not be entitled to pension for or during the summer vacation prior to his return to service.

When the member again retires on pension, the time of service and the money contributed by him during re-employment shall be added to the time and money previously credited. Such person must acquire 3 consecutive years of additional contributing service before he may retire again on a pension at a rate and under conditions other than those in force or attained at the time of his previous retirement.

(c-5) The service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person (1) does not work as a teacher for compensation on more than 100 days in a school year or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of (i) $30,000 or (ii) in the case of a person who retires with at least 5 years of service as a principal, an amount that is equal to the daily rate normally paid to retired principals multiplied by 100. These limitations apply only to school years that begin on or after August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912) this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. Such re-employment does not require contributions, result in service credit, or constitute active membership in the Fund.

Notwithstanding the 100-day limit set forth in item (1) of this subsection (c-5), the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who teaches only driver education courses after regular school hours and does not teach any other subject area, so long as the person does not work as a teacher for compensation for more than 900 hours in a school year. The $30,000 limit set forth in subitem (i) of item (2) of this subsection (c-5) shall apply to a service retirement pensioner who teaches only driver education courses after regular school hours and does not teach any other subject area.

To be eligible for such re-employment without cancellation of pension, the pensioner must notify the Fund and the Board of Education of his or her intention to accept re-employment under this subsection (c-5) before beginning that re-employment (or if the re-employment began before the effective date of this amendatory Act, then within 30 days after that effective date).

An Employer must certify to the Fund the temporary and non-annual or hourly status and the compensation of each pensioner re-employed under this subsection at least quarterly, and when the pensioner is approaching the earnings limitation under this subsection.

If the pensioner works more than 100 days or accepts excess gross compensation for such re-employment in any school year that begins on or after August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912) this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the service retirement pension shall thereupon be cancelled.

If the pensioner who only teaches drivers education courses after regular school hours works more than 900 hours or accepts excess gross compensation for such re-employment in any school year that begins on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the service retirement pension shall thereupon be cancelled.

The Board of the Fund shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of this subsection.

(d) Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section made by Public Act 90-32 apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before the effective date of that Act and apply retroactively to August 23, 1989.

Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section and Section 17-106 made by Public Act 92-599 apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before the effective date of that Act.

Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-176, eff. 7-29-15.)

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