SB2362eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2362 Engrossed LRB099 17070 RPS 41428 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 7-139, 7-139.2, 7-142.1, 7-145.1, 7-169, 14-123, 14-123.1, 14-124, 14-125, 14-127, 15-158.2, 18-125, 18-126.1, 18-128.01, and 18-133 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/7-139) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-139)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 7-139. Credits and creditable service to employees.

(a) Each participating employee shall be granted credits and creditable service, for purposes of determining the amount of any annuity or benefit to which he or a beneficiary is entitled, as follows:

1. For prior service: Each participating employee who is an employee of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality on the effective date shall be granted creditable service, but no credits under paragraph 2 of this subsection (a), for periods of prior service for which credit has not been received under any other pension fund or retirement system established under this Code, as follows:

If the effective date of participation for the participating municipality or participating instrumentality is on or before January 1, 1998, creditable service shall be granted for the entire period of prior service with that employer without any employee contribution.

If the effective date of participation for the participating municipality or participating instrumentality is after January 1, 1998, creditable service shall be granted for the last 20% of the period of prior service with that employer, but no more than 5 years, without any employee contribution. A participating employee may establish creditable service for the remainder of the period of prior service with that employer by making an application in writing, accompanied by payment of an employee contribution in an amount determined by the Fund, based on the employee contribution rates in effect at the time of application for the creditable service and the employee's salary rate on the effective date of participation for that employer, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of the prior service to the date of payment. Application for this creditable service may be made at any time while the employee is still in service.

A municipality that (i) has at least 35 employees; (ii) is located in a county with at least 2,000,000 inhabitants; and (iii) maintains an independent defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of its eligible employees may restrict creditable service in whole or in part for periods of prior service with the employer if the governing body of the municipality adopts an irrevocable resolution to restrict that creditable service and files the resolution with the board before the municipality's effective date of participation.

Any person who has withdrawn from the service of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality prior to the effective date, who reenters the service of the same municipality or participating instrumentality after the effective date and becomes a participating employee is entitled to creditable service for prior service as otherwise provided in this subdivision (a)(1) only if he or she renders 2 years of service as a participating employee after the effective date. Application for such service must be made while in a participating status. The salary rate to be used in the calculation of the required employee contribution, if any, shall be the employee's salary rate at the time of first reentering service with the employer after the employer's effective date of participation.

2. For current service, each participating employee shall be credited with:

a. Additional credits of amounts equal to each payment of additional contributions received from him under Section 7-173, as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable to him.

b. Normal credits of amounts equal to each payment of normal contributions received from him, as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable to him, and normal contributions made for the purpose of establishing out-of-state service credits as permitted under the conditions set forth in paragraph 6 of this subsection (a).

c. Municipality credits in an amount equal to 1.4 times the normal credits, except those established by out-of-state service credits, as of the date of computation of any benefit if these credits would increase the benefit.

d. Survivor credits equal to each payment of survivor contributions received from the participating employee as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable, and survivor contributions made for the purpose of establishing out-of-state service credits.

3. For periods of temporary and total and permanent disability benefits, each employee receiving disability benefits shall be granted creditable service for the period during which disability benefits are payable. Normal and survivor credits, based upon the rate of earnings applied for disability benefits, shall also be granted if such credits would result in a higher benefit to any such employee or his beneficiary.

4. For authorized leave of absence without pay: A participating employee shall be granted credits and creditable service for periods of authorized leave of absence without pay under the following conditions:

a. An application for credits and creditable service is submitted to the board while the employee is in a status of active employment.

b. Not more than 12 complete months of creditable service for authorized leave of absence without pay shall be counted for purposes of determining any benefits payable under this Article.

c. Credits and creditable service shall be granted for leave of absence only if such leave is approved by the governing body of the municipality, including approval of the estimated cost thereof to the municipality as determined by the fund, and employee contributions, plus interest at the effective rate applicable for each year from the end of the period of leave to date of payment, have been paid to the fund in accordance with Section 7-173. The contributions shall be computed upon the assumption earnings continued during the period of leave at the rate in effect when the leave began.

d. Benefits under the provisions of Sections 7-141, 7-146, 7-150 and 7-163 shall become payable to employees on authorized leave of absence, or their designated beneficiary, only if such leave of absence is creditable hereunder, and if the employee has at least one year of creditable service other than the service granted for leave of absence. Any employee contributions due may be deducted from any benefits payable.

e. No credits or creditable service shall be allowed for leave of absence without pay during any period of prior service.

5. For military service: The governing body of a municipality or participating instrumentality may elect to allow creditable service to participating employees who leave their employment to serve in the armed forces of the United States for all periods of such service, provided that the person returns to active employment within 90 days after completion of full time active duty, but no creditable service shall be allowed such person for any period that can be used in the computation of a pension or any other pay or benefit, other than pay for active duty, for service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States. If necessary to the computation of any benefit, the board shall establish municipality credits for participating employees under this paragraph on the assumption that the employee received earnings at the rate received at the time he left the employment to enter the armed forces. A participating employee in the armed forces shall not be considered an employee during such period of service and no additional death and no disability benefits are payable for death or disability during such period.

Any participating employee who left his employment with a municipality or participating instrumentality to serve in the armed forces of the United States and who again became a participating employee within 90 days after completion of full time active duty by entering the service of a different municipality or participating instrumentality, which has elected to allow creditable service for periods of military service under the preceding paragraph, shall also be allowed creditable service for his period of military service on the same terms that would apply if he had been employed, before entering military service, by the municipality or instrumentality which employed him after he left the military service and the employer costs arising in relation to such grant of creditable service shall be charged to and paid by that municipality or instrumentality.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any participating employee shall be entitled to creditable service as required by any federal law relating to re-employment rights of persons who served in the United States Armed Services. Such creditable service shall be granted upon payment by the member of an amount equal to the employee contributions which would have been required had the employee continued in service at the same rate of earnings during the military leave period, plus interest at the effective rate.

5.1. In addition to any creditable service established under paragraph 5 of this subsection (a), creditable service may be granted for up to 48 months of service in the armed forces of the United States.

In order to receive creditable service for military service under this paragraph 5.1, a participating employee must (1) apply to the Fund in writing and provide evidence of the military service that is satisfactory to the Board; (2) obtain the written approval of the current employer; and (3) make contributions to the Fund equal to (i) the employee contributions that would have been required had the service been rendered as a member, plus (ii) an amount determined by the board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefits accrued for that military service, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) from the date of first membership in the Fund to the date of payment. The required interest shall be calculated at the regular interest rate.

The changes made to this paragraph 5.1 by Public Acts 95-483 and 95-486 apply only to participating employees in service on or after August 28, 2007 (the effective date of those Public Acts).

6. For out-of-state service: Creditable service shall be granted for service rendered to an out-of-state local governmental body under the following conditions: The employee had participated and has irrevocably forfeited all rights to benefits in the out-of-state public employees pension system; the governing body of his participating municipality or instrumentality authorizes the employee to establish such service; the employee has 2 years current service with this municipality or participating instrumentality; the employee makes a payment of contributions, which shall be computed at 8% (normal) plus 2% (survivor) times length of service purchased times the average rate of earnings for the first 2 years of service with the municipality or participating instrumentality whose governing body authorizes the service established plus interest at the effective rate on the date such credits are established, payable from the date the employee completes the required 2 years of current service to date of payment. In no case shall more than 120 months of creditable service be granted under this provision.

7. For retroactive service: Any employee who could have but did not elect to become a participating employee, or who should have been a participant in the Municipal Public Utilities Annuity and Benefit Fund before that fund was superseded, may receive creditable service for the period of service not to exceed 50 months; however, a current or former elected or appointed official of a participating municipality may establish credit under this paragraph 7 for more than 50 months of service as an official of that municipality, if the excess over 50 months is approved by resolution of the governing body of the affected municipality filed with the Fund before January 1, 2002.

Any employee who is a participating employee on or after September 24, 1981 and who was excluded from participation by the age restrictions removed by Public Act 82-596 may receive creditable service for the period, on or after January 1, 1979, excluded by the age restriction and, in addition, if the governing body of the participating municipality or participating instrumentality elects to allow creditable service for all employees excluded by the age restriction prior to January 1, 1979, for service during the period prior to that date excluded by the age restriction. Any employee who was excluded from participation by the age restriction removed by Public Act 82-596 and who is not a participating employee on or after September 24, 1981 may receive creditable service for service after January 1, 1979. Creditable service under this paragraph shall be granted upon payment of the employee contributions which would have been required had he participated, with interest at the effective rate for each year from the end of the period of service established to date of payment.

8. For accumulated unused sick leave: A participating employee who is applying for a retirement annuity shall be entitled to creditable service for that portion of the employee's accumulated unused sick leave for which payment is not received, as follows:

a. Sick leave days shall be limited to those accumulated under a sick leave plan established by a participating municipality or participating instrumentality which is available to all employees or a class of employees.

b. Except as provided in item b-1, only sick leave days accumulated with a participating municipality or participating instrumentality with which the employee was in service within 60 days of the effective date of his retirement annuity shall be credited; If the employee was in service with more than one employer during this period only the sick leave days with the employer with which the employee has the greatest number of unpaid sick leave days shall be considered.

b-1. If the employee was in the service of more than one employer as defined in item (2) of paragraph (a) of subsection (A) of Section 7-132, then the sick leave days from all such employers shall be credited, as long as the creditable service attributed to those sick leave days does not exceed the limitation in item f of this paragraph 8. In calculating the creditable service under this item b-1, the sick leave days from the last employer shall be considered first, then the remaining sick leave days shall be considered until there are no more days or the maximum creditable sick leave threshold under item f of this paragraph 8 has been reached.

c. The creditable service granted shall be considered solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the retirement annuity and shall not be used to establish any minimum service period required by any provision of the Illinois Pension Code, the effective date of the retirement annuity, or the final rate of earnings.

d. The creditable service shall be at the rate of 1/20 of a month for each full sick day, provided that no more than 12 months may be credited under this subdivision 8.

e. Employee contributions shall not be required for creditable service under this subdivision 8.

f. Each participating municipality and participating instrumentality with which an employee has service within 60 days of the effective date of his retirement annuity shall certify to the board the number of accumulated unpaid sick leave days credited to the employee at the time of termination of service.

9. For service transferred from another system: Credits and creditable service shall be granted for service under Article 4, 5, 8, 14, or 16 of this Act, to any active member of this Fund, and to any inactive member who has been a county sheriff, upon transfer of such credits pursuant to Section 4-108.3, 5-235, 8-226.7, 14-105.6, or 16-131.4, and payment by the member of the amount by which (1) the employer and employee contributions that would have been required if he had participated in this Fund as a sheriff's law enforcement employee during the period for which credit is being transferred, plus interest thereon at the effective rate for each year, compounded annually, from the date of termination of the service for which credit is being transferred to the date of payment, exceeds (2) the amount actually transferred to the Fund. Such transferred service shall be deemed to be service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee for the purposes of Section 7-142.1.

10. (Blank).

11. For service transferred from an Article 3 system under Section 3-110.3: Credits and creditable service shall be granted for service under Article 3 of this Act as provided in Section 3-110.3, to any active member of this Fund, upon transfer of such credits pursuant to Section 3-110.3. If the board determines that the amount transferred is less than the true cost to the Fund of allowing that creditable service to be established, then in order to establish that creditable service, the member must pay to the Fund an additional contribution equal to the difference, as determined by the board in accordance with the rules and procedures adopted under this paragraph. If the member does not make the full additional payment as required by this paragraph prior to termination of his participation with that employer, then his or her creditable service shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between the amount transferred under Section 3-110.3, including any payments made by the member under this paragraph prior to termination, and the true cost to the Fund of allowing that creditable service to be established, as determined by the board in accordance with the rules and procedures adopted under this paragraph.

The board shall establish by rule the manner of making the calculation required under this paragraph 11, taking into account the appropriate actuarial assumptions; the member's service, age, and salary history, and any other factors that the board determines to be relevant.

12. For omitted service: Any employee who was employed by a participating employer in a position that required participation, but who was not enrolled in the Fund, may establish such credits under the following conditions:

a. Application for such credits is received by the Board while the employee is an active participant of the Fund or a reciprocal retirement system.

b. Eligibility for participation and earnings are verified by the Authorized Agent of the participating employer for which the service was rendered.

Creditable service under this paragraph shall be granted upon payment of the employee contributions that would have been required had he participated, which shall be calculated by the Fund using the member contribution rate in effect during the period that the service was rendered.

(b) Creditable service - amount:

1. One month of creditable service shall be allowed for each month for which a participating employee made contributions as required under Section 7-173, or for which creditable service is otherwise granted hereunder. Not more than 1 month of service shall be credited and counted for 1 calendar month, and not more than 1 year of service shall be credited and counted for any calendar year. A calendar month means a nominal month beginning on the first day thereof, and a calendar year means a year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

2. A seasonal employee shall be given 12 months of creditable service if he renders the number of months of service normally required by the position in a 12-month period and he remains in service for the entire 12-month period. Otherwise a fractional year of service in the number of months of service rendered shall be credited.

3. An intermittent employee shall be given creditable service for only those months in which a contribution is made under Section 7-173.

(c) No application for correction of credits or creditable service shall be considered unless the board receives an application for correction while (1) the applicant is a participating employee and in active employment with a participating municipality or instrumentality, or (2) while the applicant is actively participating in a pension fund or retirement system which is a participating system under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. A participating employee or other applicant shall not be entitled to credits or creditable service unless the required employee contributions are made in a lump sum or in installments made in accordance with board rule. Payments made to establish service credit under paragraph 1, 4, 5, 5.1, 6, 7, or 12 of subsection (a) of this Section must be received by the Board while the applicant is an active participant in the Fund or a reciprocal retirement system, except that an applicant may make one payment after termination of active participation in the Fund or a reciprocal retirement system.

(d) Upon the granting of a retirement, surviving spouse or child annuity, a death benefit or a separation benefit, on account of any employee, all individual accumulated credits shall thereupon terminate. Upon the withdrawal of additional contributions, the credits applicable thereto shall thereupon terminate. Terminated credits shall not be applied to increase the benefits any remaining employee would otherwise receive under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 97-415, eff. 8-16-11; 98-439, eff. 8-16-13; 98-932, eff. 8-15-14.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-139.2) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-139.2)

Sec. 7-139.2. Validation of service credits. An active member of the General Assembly having no service credits or creditable service in the Fund, may establish service credit and creditable service for periods during which he was an employee of a municipality in an elective office and could have elected to participate in the Fund but did not so elect. Service credits and creditable service may be established by payment to the Fund of an amount equal to the contributions he would have made if he had elected to participate plus interest to the date of payment, together with the applicable municipality credits including interest, but the total period of such creditable service that may be validated shall not exceed 8 years. Payments made to establish such service credit must be received by the Board while the member is an active participant in the General Assembly Retirement System, except that one payment will be permitted after the member terminates such service.

(Source: P.A. 81-1536.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-142.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142.1)

Sec. 7-142.1. Sheriff's law enforcement employees.

(a) In lieu of the retirement annuity provided by subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of Section 7-142:

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service prior to January 1, 1988 shall be entitled at his option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for his service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2% for each year of such service up to 10 years, 2 1/4% for each year of such service above 10 years and up to 20 years, and 2 1/2% for each year of such service above 20 years, by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service on or after January 1, 1988 and before July 1, 2004 shall be entitled at his option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for his service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2.5% for each year of such service up to 20 years, 2% for each year of such service above 20 years and up to 30 years, and 1% for each year of such service above 30 years, by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service on or after July 1, 2004 shall be entitled at his or her option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2.5% for each year of such service by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

If a sheriff's law enforcement employee has service in any other capacity, his retirement annuity for service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee may be computed under this Section and the retirement annuity for his other service under Section 7-142.

In no case shall the total monthly retirement annuity for persons who retire before July 1, 2004 exceed 75% of the monthly final rate of earnings. In no case shall the total monthly retirement annuity for persons who retire on or after July 1, 2004 exceed 80% of the monthly final rate of earnings.

(b) Whenever continued group insurance coverage is elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 367h of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, the total monthly premium for such continued group insurance coverage or such portion thereof as is not paid by the municipality shall, upon request of the person electing such continued group insurance coverage, be deducted from any monthly pension benefit otherwise payable to such person pursuant to this Section, to be remitted by the Fund to the insurance company or other entity providing the group insurance coverage.

(c) A sheriff's law enforcement employee who began service in that capacity prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly and who has service in any other capacity may convert up to 10 years of that service into service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee by paying to the Fund an amount equal to (1) the additional employee contribution required under Section 7-173.1, plus (2) the additional employer contribution required under Section 7-172, plus (3) interest on items (1) and (2) at the prescribed rate from the date of the service to the date of payment. Application must be received by the Board while the employee is an active participant in the Fund. Payment must be received while the member is an active participant, except that one payment will be permitted after termination of participation.

(d) The changes to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly apply only to persons in service on or after July 1, 2004. In the case of such a person who begins to receive a retirement annuity before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the annuity shall be recalculated prospectively to reflect those changes, with the resulting increase beginning to accrue on the first annuity payment date following the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(e) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the provisions of this subsection (f) apply to a person who first becomes a sheriff's law enforcement employee under this Article on or after January 1, 2011.

A sheriff's law enforcement employee age 55 or more who has 10 or more years of service in that capacity shall be entitled at his option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for his or her service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2.5% for each year of such service by his or her final rate of earnings.

The retirement annuity of a sheriff's law enforcement employee who is retiring after attaining age 50 with 10 or more years of creditable service shall be reduced by one-half of 1% for each month that the sheriff's law enforcement employee's age is under age 55.

The maximum retirement annuity under this subsection (f) shall be 75% of final rate of earnings.

For the purposes of this subsection (f), "final rate of earnings" means the average monthly earnings obtained by dividing the total salary of the sheriff's law enforcement employee during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total earnings was the highest by the number of months of service in that period.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, beginning on January 1, 2011, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings of a sheriff's law enforcement employee to whom this Section applies shall not include overtime and shall not exceed $106,800; however, that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount, including all previous adjustments, or (ii) one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the monthly annuity of a person who first becomes a sheriff's law enforcement employee under this Article on or after January 1, 2011 shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 60 or the first anniversary of the annuity start date, whichever is later. Each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for a 12-month period ending in September is zero or, when compared with the preceding period, decreases, then the annuity shall not be increased.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, for a person who first becomes a sheriff's law enforcement employee under this Article on or after January 1, 2011, the annuity to which the surviving spouse, children, or parents are entitled under this subsection (h) shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the sheriff's law enforcement employee's earned annuity at the date of death.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the monthly annuity of a survivor of a person who first becomes a sheriff's law enforcement employee under this Article on or after January 1, 2011 shall be increased on the January 1 after attainment of age 60 by the recipient of the survivor's annuity and each January 1 thereafter by 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted pension. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for a 12-month period ending in September is zero or, when compared with the preceding period, decreases, then the annuity shall not be increased.

(j) For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the pension funds.

(Source: P.A. 96-961, eff. 7-2-10; 96-1495, eff. 1-1-11; 97-272, eff. 8-8-11; 97-609, eff. 8-26-11.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-145.1)

Sec. 7-145.1. Alternative annuity for county officers.

(a) The benefits provided in this Section and Section 7-145.2 are available only if, prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the county board has filed with the Board of the Fund a resolution or ordinance expressly consenting to the availability of these benefits for its elected county officers. The county board's consent is irrevocable with respect to persons participating in the program, but may be revoked at any time with respect to persons who have not paid an additional optional contribution under this Section before the date of revocation.

An elected county officer may elect to establish alternative credits for an alternative annuity by electing in writing before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly to make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board. These alternative credits are available only for periods of service as an elected county officer. The elected county officer may discontinue making the additional optional contributions by notifying the Fund in writing in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board.

Additional optional contributions for the alternative annuity shall be as follows:

(1) For service as an elected county officer after the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of salary shall be contributed to the Fund on the same basis and under the same conditions as contributions required under Section 7-173.

(2) For service as an elected county officer before the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of the salary for the applicable period of service, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of service to the date of payment, plus any additional amount required by the county board under paragraph (3). All payments for past service must be paid in full before credit is given. Payment must be received by the Board while the member is an active participant, except that one payment will be permitted after termination of participation.

(3) With respect to service as an elected county officer before the option is elected, if payment is made after the county board has filed with the Board of the Fund a resolution or ordinance requiring an additional contribution under this paragraph, then the contribution required under paragraph (2) shall include an amount to be determined by the Fund, equal to the actuarial present value of the additional employer cost that would otherwise result from the alternative credits being established for that service. A county board's resolution or ordinance requiring additional contributions under this paragraph (3) is irrevocable. Payment must be received by the Board while the member is an active participant, except that one payment will be permitted after termination of participation.

No additional optional contributions may be made for any period of service for which credit has been previously forfeited by acceptance of a refund, unless the refund is repaid in full with interest at the effective rate from the date of refund to the date of repayment.

(b) In lieu of the retirement annuity otherwise payable under this Article, an elected county officer who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund and make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section, (2) has held and made additional optional contributions with respect to the same elected county office for at least 8 years, and (3) has attained age 55 with at least 8 years of service credit (or has attained age 50 with at least 20 years of service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee) may elect to have his retirement annuity computed as follows: 3% of the participant's salary for each of the first 8 years of service credit, plus 4% of that salary for each of the next 4 years of service credit, plus 5% of that salary for each year of service credit in excess of 12 years, subject to a maximum of 80% of that salary.

This formula applies only to service in an elected county office that the officer held for at least 8 years, and only to service for which additional optional contributions have been paid under this Section. If an elected county officer qualifies to have this formula applied to service in more than one elected county office, the qualifying service shall be accumulated for purposes of determining the applicable accrual percentages, but the salary used for each office shall be the separate salary calculated for that office, as defined in subsection (g).

To the extent that the elected county officer has service credit that does not qualify for this formula, his retirement annuity will first be determined in accordance with this formula with respect to the service to which this formula applies, and then in accordance with the remaining Sections of this Article with respect to the service to which this formula does not apply.

(c) In lieu of the disability benefits otherwise payable under this Article, an elected county officer who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund, and (2) has become permanently disabled and as a consequence is unable to perform the duties of his office, and (3) was making optional contributions in accordance with this Section at the time the disability was incurred, may elect to receive a disability annuity calculated in accordance with the formula in subsection (b). For the purposes of this subsection, an elected county officer shall be considered permanently disabled only if: (i) disability occurs while in service as an elected county officer and is of such a nature as to prevent him from reasonably performing the duties of his office at the time; and (ii) the board has received a written certification by at least 2 licensed physicians appointed by it stating that the officer is disabled and that the disability is likely to be permanent.

(d) Refunds of additional optional contributions shall be made on the same basis and under the same conditions as provided under Section 7-166, 7-167 and 7-168. Interest shall be credited at the effective rate on the same basis and under the same conditions as for other contributions.

If an elected county officer fails to hold that same elected county office for at least 8 years, he or she shall be entitled after leaving office to receive a refund of the additional optional contributions made with respect to that office, plus interest at the effective rate.

(e) The plan of optional alternative benefits and contributions shall be available to persons who are elected county officers and active contributors to the Fund on or after November 15, 1994 and elected to establish alternative credit before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. A person who was an elected county officer and an active contributor to the Fund on November 15, 1994 but is no longer an active contributor may apply to make additional optional contributions under this Section at any time within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997; if the person is an annuitant, the resulting increase in annuity shall begin to accrue on the first day of the month following the month in which the required payment is received by the Fund.

(f) For the purposes of this Section and Section 7-145.2, the terms "elected county officer" and "elected county office" include, but are not limited to: (1) the county clerk, recorder, treasurer, coroner, assessor (if elected), auditor, sheriff, and State's Attorney; members of the county board; and the clerk of the circuit court; and (2) a person who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in an office that is normally filled by election on a countywide basis, for the duration of his or her service in that office. The terms "elected county officer" and "elected county office" do not include any officer or office of a county that has not consented to the availability of benefits under this Section and Section 7-145.2.

(g) For the purposes of this Section and Section 7-145.2, the term "salary" means the final rate of earnings for the elected county office held, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 7-116, but for that office only. If an elected county officer qualifies to have the formula in subsection (b) applied to service in more than one elected county office, a separate salary shall be calculated and applied with respect to each such office.

(h) The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly apply to persons who first make an additional optional contribution under this Section on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(i) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(Source: P.A. 96-961, eff. 7-2-10; 97-272, eff. 8-8-11; 97-609, eff. 8-26-11.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-169) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-169)

Sec. 7-169. Separation benefits; repayments.

(a) If an employee who has received a separation benefit subsequently becomes a participating employee, and renders at least 2 years of contributing service from the date of such re-entry, he may pay to the fund the amount of the separation benefit, plus interest at the effective rate for each year from the date of payment of the separation benefit to the date of repayment. Upon payment his creditable service shall be reinstated and the payment shall be credited to his account as normal contributions. Application must be received by the Board while the employee is an active participant in the Fund or a reciprocal retirement system. Payment must be received while the member is an active participant, except that one payment will be permitted after termination of participation in the Fund or a reciprocal retirement system.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2004, the requirement of returning to service for at least 2 years does not apply to persons who return to service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee. This subsection applies only to persons in service on or after July 1, 2004. In the case of such a person who begins to receive a retirement annuity before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the annuity shall be recalculated prospectively to reflect any credits reinstated as a result of this subsection, with the resulting increase in annuity beginning to accrue on the first annuity payment date following the effective date of this amendatory Act, but not earlier than the date the repayment is received by the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 94-712, eff. 6-1-06.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-123) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-123)

Sec. 14-123. Occupational disability benefits. A member who becomes incapacitated to perform the duties of his position as the proximate result of bodily injuries sustained or a hazard undergone while in the performance and within the scope of the member's duties, shall receive an occupational disability benefit; provided:

(a) application is made within 12 months after the date that such disability results in the loss of pay, or 12 months after the date that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission rules on the application for an occupational disability, or 12 months after the occurrence of disablement if an occupational disease; and

(b) proper proof is received from one or more licensed healthcare practitioners physicians designated by the Board certifying that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated; and .

(c) the Board may waive the application deadline requirement as prescribed under item (a) of this Section and the benefit shall be payable retroactive to the date that the participant attained the eligibility criteria for the benefit provided by this Section.

The benefit shall be 75% of the member's final average compensation at date of disability and shall be payable until the first of the following dates occurs:

(1) the date on which disability ceases;

(2) the date on which the member engages in gainful employment;

(3) the end of the month in which the member attains age 65, in the case of benefits commencing prior to attainment of age 60;

(4) the end of the month following the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the benefit, or of the temporary disability benefit if one was received, in the case of benefits commencing on or after attainment of age 60; or

(5) the end of the month in which the death of the member occurs.

At the end of the month in which the benefits cease as prescribed in paragraphs (3) or (4) above, if the member is still disabled, he shall become entitled to a retirement annuity and the minimum period of service prescribed for the receipt of such annuity shall be waived.

In the event that a temporary disability benefit has been received, the benefit paid under this Section shall be subject to adjustment by the Board under Section 14-123.1.

The Board shall prescribe rules and regulations governing the filing of claims for occupational disability benefits, and the investigation, control and supervision of such claims.

(Source: P.A. 93-721, eff. 1-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-123.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-123.1)

Sec. 14-123.1. Temporary disability benefit.

(a) A member who has at least 18 months of creditable service and who becomes physically or mentally incapacitated to perform the duties of his position shall receive a temporary disability benefit, provided that:

(1) the agency responsible for determining the liability of the State (i) has formally denied all employer-paid temporary total disability benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act and an appeal of that denial is pending before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, or (ii) has granted and then terminated for any reason an employer-paid temporary total disability benefit and the member has filed a petition for a emergency hearing under Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Compensation Act or Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act; and

(2) application is made not later than (i) 12 months after the date that the disability results in loss of pay, (ii) 12 months after the date the agency responsible for determining the liability of the State under the Workers' Compensation Act or Workers' Occupational Diseases Act has formally denied or terminated the employer-paid temporary total disability benefit, or (iii) in the case of termination of an employer-paid temporary total disability benefit, 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, whichever occurs last; and

(3) proper proof is received from one or more licensed healthcare practitioners physicians designated by the Board certifying that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated; and .

(4) the Board may waive the application deadline requirement as prescribed under item (2) of this subsection and the benefit shall be payable retroactive to the date that the participant attained the eligibility criteria for the benefit provided by this Section.

(b) In the case of a denial of benefits, the temporary disability benefit shall begin to accrue on the 31st day of absence from work on account of disability, but the benefit shall not become actually payable to the member until the expiration of 31 days from the day upon which the member last received or had a right to receive any compensation.

In the case of termination of an employer-paid temporary total disability benefit, the temporary disability benefit under this Section shall be calculated from the day following the date of termination of the employer-paid benefit or the 31st day of absence from work on account of disability, whichever is later, but shall not become payable to the member until (i) the member's right to an employer-paid temporary total disability benefit is denied as a result of the emergency hearing held under Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Compensation Act or Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act or (ii) the expiration of 150 days from the date of termination of the employer-paid benefit, whichever occurs first. If a terminated employer-paid temporary total disability benefit is resumed or replaced with another employer-paid disability benefit and the resumed or replacement benefit is later terminated and the member again files a petition for a emergency hearing under Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Compensation Act or Section 19(b) or Section 19(b-1) of the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act, the member may again become eligible to receive a temporary disability benefit under this Section. The waiting period before the temporary disability benefit under this Section becomes payable applies each time that the benefit is reinstated.

The benefit shall continue to accrue until the first of the following events occurs:

(1) the disability ceases;

(2) the member engages in gainful employment;

(3) the end of the month in which the member attains age 65, in the case of benefits commencing prior to attainment of age 60;

(4) the end of the month following the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the benefit in the case of benefits commencing on or after attainment of age 60;

(5) the end of the month in which the death of the member occurs;

(6) the end of the month in which the aggregate period for which temporary disability payments have been made becomes equal to 1/2 of the member's total period of creditable service, not including the time for which he has received a temporary disability benefit or nonoccupational disability benefit; for purposes of this item (6) only, in the case of a member to whom Section 14-108.2a or 14-108.2b applies and who, at the time disability commences, is performing services for the Illinois Department of Public Health or the Department of State Police relating to the transferred functions referred to in that Section and has less than 10 years of creditable service under this Article, the member's "total period of creditable service" shall be augmented by an amount equal to (i) one half of the member's period of creditable service in the Fund established under Article 8 (excluding any creditable service over 20 years), minus (ii) the amount of the member's creditable service under this Article;

(7) a payment is made on the member's claim pursuant to a determination made by the agency responsible for determining the liability of the State under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act;

(8) a final determination is made on the member's claim by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.

(c) The temporary disability benefit shall be 50% of the member's final average compensation at the date of disability.

If a covered employee is eligible under the Social Security Act for a disability benefit before attaining the Social Security full retirement age 65, or a retirement benefit on or after attaining the Social Security full retirement age 65, then the amount of the member's temporary disability benefit shall be reduced by the amount of primary benefit the member is eligible to receive under the Social Security Act, whether or not such eligibility came about as the result of service as a covered employee under this Article. The Board may make such reduction pending a determination of eligibility if it appears that the employee may be so eligible, and shall make an appropriate adjustment if necessary after such determination has been made. The amount of temporary disability benefit payable under this Article shall not be reduced by reason of any increase in benefits payable under the Social Security Act which occurs after the reduction required by this paragraph has been applied. For purposes of this subsection, "Social Security full retirement age" is the age at which an individual is eligible to receive full Social Security retirement benefits.

(d) The temporary disability benefit provided under this Section is intended as a temporary payment of occupational or nonoccupational disability benefit, whichever is appropriate, in cases in which the occupational or nonoccupational character of the disability has not been finally determined.

When an employer-paid disability benefit is paid or resumed, the Board shall calculate the benefit that is payable under Section 14-123 and shall deduct from the benefit payable under Section 14-123 the amounts already paid under this Section; those amounts shall then be treated as if they had been paid under Section 14-123.

When a final determination of the character of the disability has been made by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, or by settlement between the parties to the disputed claim, the Board shall calculate the benefit that is payable under Section 14-123 or 14-124, whichever is applicable, and shall deduct from such benefit the amounts already paid under this Section; such amounts shall then be treated as if they had been paid under such Section 14-123 or 14-124.

(e) Any excess benefits paid under this Section shall be subject to recovery by the System from benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act or from third parties as provided in Section 14-129, or from any other benefits payable either to the member or on his behalf under this Article. A member who accepts benefits under this Section acknowledges and authorizes these recovery rights of the System.

(f) Service credits under the State Universities Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois shall be considered for the purposes of determining temporary disability benefit eligibility under this Section, and for determining the total period of time for which such benefits are payable.

(g) The Board shall prescribe rules and regulations governing the filing of claims for temporary disability benefits, and the investigation, control and supervision of such claims.

(h) References in this Section to employer-paid benefits include benefits paid for by the State, either directly or through a program of insurance or self-insurance, whether paid through the member's own department or through some other department or entity; but the term does not include benefits paid by the System under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 93-721, eff. 1-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-124) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-124)

Sec. 14-124. Nonoccupational disability benefit. A member with at least 1 1/2 years of creditable service may be granted a nonoccupational disability benefit, if:

(1) application for the benefit is made to the system by the member in writing after the commencement of disability;

(2) the member is found upon medical examination to be mentally or physically incapacitated to perform the duties of the member's position;

(3) the disability resulted from a cause other than an injury or illness sustained in connection with the member's performance of duty as a State employee;

(4) the member has been granted a leave of absence for disability at the time of commencement of disability. Renewal of a disability leave of absence shall not be required for the continued payment of benefits; and

(5) the member has used all accumulated sick leave available at the beginning of the leave of absence for disability.

The benefit shall begin to accrue on the latest of: (i) the 31st day of absence from work on account of disability (including any periods of such absence for which sick pay was received); (ii) the day following the day on which the member last receives or has a right to receive any compensation as an employee, including any sick pay; or (iii) if application by the member is delayed more than 90 days after the member's name is removed from the payroll, the benefit shall be payable retroactive to the date that a participant attained the eligibility criteria as provided by this Section the date application is received by the system. The benefit shall continue to accrue until the first of the following to occur:

(a) the date on which disability ceases;

(b) the end of the month in which the member attains age 65 in the case of benefits commencing prior to attainment of age 60;

(c) the end of the month following the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the benefit, or of the temporary disability benefit if one was received, in the case of benefits commencing on or after attainment of age 60;

(d) the end of the month in which the aggregate period for which non-occupational disability and temporary disability benefit payments have been made becomes equal to 1/2 of the member's total period of creditable service, not including the time during which he has received a temporary disability benefit or nonoccupational disability benefit; for purposes of this item (d) only, in the case of a member to whom Section 14-108.2a or 14-108.2b applies and who, at the time disability commences, is performing services for the Illinois Department of Public Health or the Department of State Police relating to the transferred functions referred to in that Section and has less than 10 years of creditable service under this Article, the member's "total period of creditable service" shall be augmented by an amount equal to (i) one half of the member's period of creditable service in the Fund established under Article 8 (excluding any creditable service over 20 years), minus (ii) the amount of the member's creditable service under this Article;

(e) the date on which the member engages in gainful employment;

(f) the end of the month in which the death of the member occurs.

If disability has ceased and the member again becomes disabled within 60 days from date of resumption of State employment, and if the disability is due to the same cause for which he received nonoccupational disability benefit immediately preceding such reentry into service, the 30 days waiting period prescribed for the receipt of benefits is waived as to such new period of disability.

A member shall be considered disabled only when the board has received:

(a) a written certificate by one or more licensed healthcare practitioners and practicing physicians designated by the board, certifying that the member is disabled and unable properly to perform the duties of his position at the time of disability; and

(b) the employee certifies that he is not and has not been engaged in gainful employment.

The board shall prescribe rules and regulations governing the filing of claims for nonoccupational disability benefits, and the investigation, control and supervision of such claims.

Service credits under the State Universities Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois shall be considered for the purposes of nonoccupational disability benefit eligibility under this Article and for the total period of time for which such benefits are payable.

(Source: P.A. 88-535; 89-246, eff. 8-4-95.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-125) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-125)

Sec. 14-125. Nonoccupational disability benefit - Amount of. The nonoccupational disability benefit shall be 50% of the member's final average compensation at the time disability occurred. In the case of a member whose benefit was resumed due to the same disability, the amount of the benefit shall be the same as that last paid before resumption of State employment. In the event that a temporary disability benefit has been received, the nonoccupational disability benefit shall be subject to adjustment by the Board under Section 14-123.1.

If a covered employee is eligible for a disability benefit before attaining the Social Security full retirement age 65 or a retirement benefit on or after attaining the Social Security full retirement age 65 under the Federal Social Security Act, the amount of the member's nonoccupational disability benefit shall be reduced by the amount of primary benefit the member would be eligible to receive under such Act, whether or not entitlement thereto came about as the result of service as a covered employee under this Article. The Board may make such reduction if it appears that the employee may be so eligible pending determination of eligibility and make an appropriate adjustment if necessary after such determination. The amount of any nonoccupational disability benefit payable under this Article shall not be reduced by reason of any increase under the Federal Social Security Act which occurs after the offset required by this Section is first applied to that benefit.

For purposes of this Section, "Social Security full retirement age" is the age at which an individual is eligible to receive full Social Security retirement benefits.

(Source: P.A. 84-1028.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-127) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-127)

Sec. 14-127. Credit during disability. During any period of disability for which nonoccupational, occupational or temporary disability benefits are paid, there shall be credited to the account of the disabled member amounts representing the contributions the member would have made had he or she remained in active employment in the same position and at the rate of compensation in effect at the time disability occurred. Service credit shall also be granted him during any such periods of disability for all purposes of this Article except for measuring the duration of nonoccupational and temporary disability benefits. The resolution of a temporary disability benefit into an occupational or nonoccupational disability benefit shall not entitle the disabled member to receive duplicate contribution and service credit under this Section for the period during which the temporary disability benefit was paid.

(Source: P.A. 84-1028.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-158.2)

Sec. 15-158.2. Self-managed plan.

(a) Purpose. The General Assembly finds that it is important for colleges and universities to be able to attract and retain the most qualified employees and that in order to attract and retain these employees, colleges and universities should have the flexibility to provide a defined contribution plan as an alternative for eligible employees who elect not to participate in a defined benefit retirement program provided under this Article. Accordingly, the State Universities Retirement System is hereby authorized to establish and administer a self-managed plan, which shall offer participating employees the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of employee and employer contributions that may be invested in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts, either fixed or variable or a combination thereof. The plan must be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) Adoption by employers. Each employer subject to this Article may elect to adopt the self-managed plan established under this Section; this election is irrevocable. An employer's election to adopt the self-managed plan makes available to the eligible employees of that employer the elections described in Section 15-134.5.

The State Universities Retirement System shall be the plan sponsor for the self-managed plan and shall prepare a plan document and prescribe such rules and procedures as are considered necessary or desirable for the administration of the self-managed plan. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of plan administration as it sees fit to companies authorized to do business in this State, to the employers, or to a combination of both.

(c) Selection of service providers and funding vehicles. The System, in consultation with the employers, shall solicit proposals to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan from insurance and annuity companies and mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions authorized to do business in this State. In reviewing the proposals received and approving and contracting with no fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, the Board of Trustees of the System shall consider, among other things, the following criteria:

(1) the nature and extent of the benefits that would be provided to the participants;

(2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation to the premium charged;

(3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs and interests of the participating employees and the employer;

(4) the ability of the company to provide benefits under the contract and the financial stability of the company; and

(5) the efficacy of the contract in the recruitment and retention of employees.

The System, in consultation with the employers, shall periodically review each approved company. A company may continue to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan only so long as it continues to be an approved company under contract with the Board.

(d) Employee Direction. Employees who are participating in the program must be allowed to direct the transfer of their account balances among the various investment options offered, subject to applicable contractual provisions. The participant shall not be deemed a fiduciary by reason of providing such investment direction. A person who is a fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting from such investment direction and shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with that direction. The System shall provide advance notice to the participant of the participant's obligation to direct the investment of employee and employer contributions into one or more investment funds selected by the System at the time he or she makes his or her initial retirement plan selection. If a participant fails to direct the investment of employee and employer contributions into the various investment options offered to the participant when making his or her initial retirement election choice, that failure shall require the System to invest the employee and employer contributions in a default investment fund on behalf of the participant, and the investment shall be deemed to have been made at the participant's investment direction. The participant has the right to transfer account balances out of the default investment fund during time periods designated by the System. Neither the System nor the employer guarantees any of the investments in the employee's account balances.

(e) Participation. An employee eligible to participate in the self-managed plan must make a written election in accordance with the provisions of Section 15-134.5 and the procedures established by the System. Participation in the self-managed plan by an electing employee shall begin on the first day of the first pay period following the later of the date the employee's election is filed with the System or the effective date as of which the employee's employer begins to offer participation in the self-managed plan. Employers may not make the self-managed plan available earlier than January 1, 1998. An employee's participation in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article shall terminate on the date that participation in the self-managed plan begins.

An employee who has elected to participate in the self-managed plan under this Section must continue participation while employed in an eligible position, and may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article while employed by that employer or any other employer that has adopted the self-managed plan, unless the self-managed plan is terminated in accordance with subsection (i).

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a Tier 2 member shall have the option to enroll in the self-managed plan.

Participation in the self-managed plan under this Section shall constitute membership in the State Universities Retirement System.

A participant under this Section shall be entitled to the benefits of Article 20 of this Code.

(f) Establishment of Initial Account Balance. If at the time an employee elects to participate in the self-managed plan he or she has rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package, the System shall establish for the employee an opening account balance in the self-managed plan, equal to the amount of contribution refund that the employee would be eligible to receive under Section 15-154 if the employee terminated employment on that date and elected a refund of contributions, except that this hypothetical refund shall include interest at the effective rate for the respective years. The System shall transfer assets from the defined benefit retirement program to the self-managed plan, as a tax free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding the employee's opening account balance.

(g) No Duplication of Service Credit. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, an employee may not purchase or receive service or service credit applicable to any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article for any period during which the employee was a participant in the self-managed plan established under this Section.

(h) Contributions. The self-managed plan shall be funded by contributions from employees participating in the self-managed plan and employer contributions as provided in this Section.

The contribution rate for employees participating in the self-managed plan under this Section shall be equal to the employee contribution rate for other participants in the System, as provided in Section 15-157. This required contribution shall be made as an "employer pick-up" under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor Section thereof. Any employee participating in the System's traditional benefit package prior to his or her election to participate in the self-managed plan shall continue to have the employer pick up the contributions required under Section 15-157. However, the amounts picked up after the election of the self-managed plan shall be remitted to and treated as assets of the self-managed plan. In no event shall an employee have an option of receiving these amounts in cash. Employees may make additional contributions to the self-managed plan in accordance with procedures prescribed by the System, to the extent permitted under rules prescribed by the System.

The program shall provide for employer contributions to be credited to each self-managed plan participant at a rate of 7.6% of the participating employee's salary, less the amount used by the System to provide disability benefits for the employee. The amounts so credited shall be paid into the participant's self-managed plan accounts in a manner to be prescribed by the System.

An amount of employer contribution, not exceeding 1% of the participating employee's salary, shall be used for the purpose of providing the disability benefits of the System to the employee. Prior to the beginning of each plan year under the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees shall determine, as a percentage of salary, the amount of employer contributions to be allocated during that plan year for providing disability benefits for employees in the self-managed plan.

The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations to the System of the employer contributions required for employees who participate in the self-managed plan under this Section. The amount required shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and paid by the State in accordance with Section 15-165. The System shall not be obligated to remit the required employer contributions to any of the insurance and annuity companies, mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, financial institutions, or other sponsors of any of the funding vehicles offered under the self-managed plan until it has received the required employer contributions from the State. In the event of a deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System shall implement those procedures described in subsection (c) of Section 15-165 to obtain the required funding from the General Revenue Fund.

(i) Termination. The self-managed plan authorized under this Section may be terminated by the System, subject to the terms of any relevant contracts, and the System shall have no obligation to reestablish the self-managed plan under this Section. This Section does not create a right to continued participation in any self-managed plan set up by the System under this Section. If the self-managed plan is terminated, the participants shall have the right to participate in one of the other retirement programs offered by the System and receive service credit in such other retirement program for any years of employment following the termination.

(j) Vesting; Withdrawal; Return to Service. A participant in the self-managed plan becomes vested in the employer contributions credited to his or her accounts in the self-managed plan on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) completion of 5 years of service with an employer described in Section 15-106; (2) the death of the participating employee while employed by an employer described in Section 15-106, if the participant has completed at least 1 1/2 years of service; or (3) the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

A participant in the self-managed plan who receives a distribution of his or her vested amounts from the self-managed plan while not yet eligible for retirement under this Article (and Article 20, if applicable) shall forfeit all service credit and accrued rights in the System; if subsequently re-employed, the participant shall be considered a new employee. If a former participant again becomes a participating employee (or becomes employed by a participating system under Article 20 of this Code) and continues as such for at least 2 years, all such rights, service credits, and previous status as a participant shall be restored upon repayment of the amount of the distribution, without interest.

(k) Benefit amounts. If an employee who is vested in employer contributions terminates employment, the employee shall be entitled to a benefit which is based on the account values attributable to both employer and employee contributions and any investment return thereon.

If an employee who is not vested in employer contributions terminates employment, the employee shall be entitled to a benefit based solely on the account values attributable to the employee's contributions and any investment return thereon, and the employer contributions and any investment return thereon shall be forfeited. Any employer contributions which are forfeited shall be held in escrow by the company investing those contributions and shall be used as directed by the System for future allocations of employer contributions or for the restoration of amounts previously forfeited by former participants who again become participating employees.

(Source: P.A. 98-92, eff. 7-16-13.)

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

Sec. 18-125. Retirement annuity amount.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sec. 18-133. Financing; employee contributions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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