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90_SB0210 5 ILCS 375/3 from Ch. 127, par. 523 40 ILCS 5/15-107 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-107 40 ILCS 5/15-134 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-134 40 ILCS 5/15-136 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-136 40 ILCS 5/15-136.4 new 40 ILCS 5/15-146 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-146 40 ILCS 5/15-154 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-154 40 ILCS 5/15-157 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-157 40 ILCS 5/15-158.2 40 ILCS 5/15-165 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-165 40 ILCS 15/1.1 Amends the State Universities Article of the Pension Code to provide for another optional retirement program. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act to make changes in definitions. Also makes other changes. Amends the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act to make a change in the continuing appropriation for the State Universities Retirement System. Effective immediately. LRB9001294EGfg LRB9001294EGfg 1 AN ACT in relation to public employee retirement 2 benefits, amending named Acts. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 6 1971 is amended by changing Section 3 as follows: 7 (5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523) 8 (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507) 9 Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise 10 requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act 11 shall have the following meanings. The Department may define 12 these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose 13 of implementing specific programs providing benefits under 14 this Act. 15 (a) "Administrative service organization" means any 16 person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of 17 claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and 18 capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of 19 administration executed with the Department. 20 (b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or 21 has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate 22 annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14, 15 (including 23 an employee who has retiredand is receiving a retirement24annuityunder theanoptional retirement program established 25 under Section 15-158.2and who would also be eligible for a26retirement annuity had that person been a participant in the27State University Retirement System), paragraphs (b) or (c) of 28 Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; 29 (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage 30 under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status 31 as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which -2- LRB9001294EGfg 1 such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on 2 less than the minimum period of service required for a 3 retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not 4 otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a 5 participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension 6 Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under 7 Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of 8 any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under 9 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered 10 under a group health insurance program sponsored by a 11 governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and 12 who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage 13 under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as 14 the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or 15 (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified 16 position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the 17 Director, under a qualified local government or a qualified 18 rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence 19 shelter or service. (For definition of "retired employee", 20 see (p) post). 21 (c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a 22 corporation organized under the Limited Health Service 23 Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a 24 partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is 25 authorized to do group life or group health insurance 26 business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a 27 self-insurer. 28 (d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a 29 regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the 30 State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or 31 by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of 32 the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any 33 Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held 34 by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for -3- LRB9001294EGfg 1 personal services currently performed, and ordinary or 2 accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 3 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 4 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 5 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 6 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 7 incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the 8 Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or 9 benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in 10 accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. 11 "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee 12 of any qualified local government or qualified rehabilitation 13 facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service. 14 (e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group 15 Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. 16 Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act 17 means the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission as 18 established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act 19 of 1984. 20 (f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory 21 coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected 22 by the member toward the cost of which such member makes 23 contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through 24 the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of 25 an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from 26 noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely 27 by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's 28 salary. 29 (g) "Department" means any department, institution, 30 board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State 31 government receiving appropriations and having power to 32 certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of 33 salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by 34 the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust -4- LRB9001294EGfg 1 funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of 2 trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 3 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" 4 also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance 5 Board and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank. 6 (h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of 7 the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any 8 unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted 9 child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the 10 filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of 11 adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the 12 member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives 13 with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian 14 of the child, or (2) age 19 to 23 enrolled as a full-time 15 student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon 16 the member, and eligible as a dependent for Illinois State 17 income tax purposes, or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or 18 physically handicapped as defined in the Illinois Insurance 19 Code. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also 20 includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of 21 this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent 22 that the member may claim such person as a dependent for 23 Illinois State income tax deduction purposes; no other such 24 person may be enrolled. 25 (i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois 26 Department of Central Management Services. 27 (j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a 28 member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select 29 benefits without regard to age, sex or health. 30 (k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or 31 employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his 32 compensation for service rendered to the department on a 33 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a 34 department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a -5- LRB9001294EGfg 1 department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a 2 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected 3 or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives 4 payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant 5 issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and 6 drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against 7 appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or 8 against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is 9 employed full-time or part-time in a position normally 10 requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 11 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in 12 cooperation with each department, except that persons elected 13 by popular vote will be considered employees during the 14 entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours 15 devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that 16 "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by 17 reason of such person's employment to participate in one of 18 the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either 19 the regular Article 15 system or theanoptional retirement 20 program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under 21 paragraph (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois 22 Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are 23 employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 24 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any 25 person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary 26 or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 27 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 28 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 29 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 30 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 31 incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent 32 or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation 33 Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries 34 sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment -6- LRB9001294EGfg 1 with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered 2 under this Act and has retired as a participating member 3 under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is 4 ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of 5 the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies 6 the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except 7 that such person is made ineligible to participate in the 8 State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the 9 first paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension 10 Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. 11 "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for 12 benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with 13 Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes 14 each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local 15 government, including persons appointed as trustees of 16 sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service 17 of the sanitary district, and each employee in the service of 18 a qualified rehabilitation facility and each full-time 19 employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence 20 shelter or service, as determined according to rules 21 promulgated by the Director. 22 (l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired 23 employee or survivor. 24 (m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those 25 coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her 26 voluntary election, and at his or her own expense. 27 (n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health 28 benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted 29 for by the Director under this Act. 30 (o) "Health plan" means a self-insured health insurance 31 program offered by the State of Illinois for the purposes of 32 benefiting employees by means of providing, among others, 33 wellness programs, utilization reviews, second opinions and 34 medical fee reviews, as well as for paying for hospital and -7- LRB9001294EGfg 1 medical care up to the maximum coverage provided by the plan, 2 to its members and their dependents. 3 (p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an 4 annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact 5 that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term 6 also includes any person formerly employed by the University 7 of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be 8 an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made 9 ineligible to participate in the State Universities 10 Retirement System by clause (4) of the first paragraph of 11 Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 12 (q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a 13 survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also 14 includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who 15 satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such 16 person is made ineligible to participate in the State 17 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 18 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and 19 (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed 20 by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension 21 Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that 22 such person was made ineligible to participate in the State 23 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 24 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 25 (r) "Medical services" means the services provided 26 within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all 27 categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. 28 (s) "Unit of local government" means any county, 29 municipality, township, school district, special district or 30 other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, 31 which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in 32 respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit 33 association with a membership that primarily includes 34 townships and township officials, that has duties that -8- LRB9001294EGfg 1 include provision of research service, dissemination of 2 information, and other acts for the purpose of improving 3 township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in 4 accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any 5 not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership 6 consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own 7 utility system, and provides research, training, 8 dissemination of information, or other acts to promote 9 cooperation between and among municipalities that provide 10 utility services and for the advancement of the goals and 11 purposes of its membership; and the Illinois Association of 12 Park Districts. "Qualified local government" means a unit of 13 local government approved by the Director and participating 14 in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of 15 this Act. 16 (t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any 17 not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the 18 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or 19 certified by the Department of Mental Health and 20 Developmental Disabilities to provide services to persons 21 with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of 22 Illinois for providing those services, approved by the 23 Director and participating in a program created under 24 subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act. 25 (u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" 26 means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and 27 its administrative offices funded by the Illinois Department 28 of Public Aid, approved by the Director and participating in 29 a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10. 30 (v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who: 31 (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; 32 and 33 (2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement 34 annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; -9- LRB9001294EGfg 1 and 2 (3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable 3 service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or 4 (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered 5 under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the 6 survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years 7 of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois 8 Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance 9 program offered under that Article on the effective date 10 of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or 11 survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under 12 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code. 13 (w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who: 14 (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in 15 this Section; and 16 (2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) 17 dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or 18 her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) 19 unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 20 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an 21 accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS 22 benefit recipient, eligible as a dependent for Illinois 23 State income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or 24 was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent 25 beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under 26 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 27 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped as 28 defined in the Illinois Insurance Code. 29 (x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to 30 individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced 31 training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation 32 by the President of the United States with approved pay and 33 benefits. 34 (y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to -10- LRB9001294EGfg 1 individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component 2 of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or 3 authorized under military leave with pay and benefits. 4 (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-21, eff. 6-21-95; 5 89-25, eff. 6-21-95; 89-76, eff. 7-1-95; 89-324, eff. 6 8-13-95; 89-430, eff. 12-15-95; 89-502, eff. 7-1-96; 89-628, 7 eff. 8-9-96; revised 8-23-96.) 8 (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507) 9 Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise 10 requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act 11 shall have the following meanings. The Department may define 12 these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose 13 of implementing specific programs providing benefits under 14 this Act. 15 (a) "Administrative service organization" means any 16 person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of 17 claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and 18 capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of 19 administration executed with the Department. 20 (b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or 21 has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate 22 annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14, 15 (including 23 an employee who has retiredand is receiving a retirement24annuityunder theanoptional retirement program established 25 under Section 15-158.2and who would also be eligible for a26retirement annuity had that person been a participant in the27State University Retirement System), paragraphs (b) or (c) of 28 Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; 29 (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage 30 under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status 31 as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which 32 such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on 33 less than the minimum period of service required for a 34 retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not -11- LRB9001294EGfg 1 otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a 2 participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension 3 Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under 4 Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of 5 any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under 6 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered 7 under a group health insurance program sponsored by a 8 governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and 9 who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage 10 under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as 11 the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or 12 (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified 13 position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the 14 Director, under a qualified local government or a qualified 15 rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence 16 shelter or service. (For definition of "retired employee", 17 see (p) post). 18 (c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a 19 corporation organized under the Limited Health Service 20 Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a 21 partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is 22 authorized to do group life or group health insurance 23 business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a 24 self-insurer. 25 (d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a 26 regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the 27 State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or 28 by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of 29 the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any 30 Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held 31 by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for 32 personal services currently performed, and ordinary or 33 accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 34 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under -12- LRB9001294EGfg 1 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 2 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 3 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 4 incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the 5 Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or 6 benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in 7 accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. 8 "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee 9 of any qualified local government or qualified rehabilitation 10 facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service. 11 (e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group 12 Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. 13 Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act 14 means the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission as 15 established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act 16 of 1984. 17 (f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory 18 coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected 19 by the member toward the cost of which such member makes 20 contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through 21 the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of 22 an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from 23 noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely 24 by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's 25 salary. 26 (g) "Department" means any department, institution, 27 board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State 28 government receiving appropriations and having power to 29 certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of 30 salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by 31 the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust 32 funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of 33 trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 34 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" -13- LRB9001294EGfg 1 also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance 2 Board and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank. 3 (h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of 4 the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any 5 unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted 6 child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the 7 filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of 8 adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the 9 member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives 10 with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian 11 of the child, or (2) age 19 to 23 enrolled as a full-time 12 student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon 13 the member, and eligible as a dependent for Illinois State 14 income tax purposes, or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or 15 physically handicapped as defined in the Illinois Insurance 16 Code. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also 17 includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of 18 this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent 19 that the member may claim such person as a dependent for 20 Illinois State income tax deduction purposes; no other such 21 person may be enrolled. 22 (i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois 23 Department of Central Management Services. 24 (j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a 25 member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select 26 benefits without regard to age, sex or health. 27 (k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or 28 employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his 29 compensation for service rendered to the department on a 30 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a 31 department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a 32 department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a 33 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected 34 or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives -14- LRB9001294EGfg 1 payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant 2 issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and 3 drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against 4 appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or 5 against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is 6 employed full-time or part-time in a position normally 7 requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 8 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in 9 cooperation with each department, except that persons elected 10 by popular vote will be considered employees during the 11 entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours 12 devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that 13 "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by 14 reason of such person's employment to participate in one of 15 the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either 16 the regular Article 15 system or theanoptional retirement 17 program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under 18 paragraph (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois 19 Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are 20 employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 21 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any 22 person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary 23 or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 24 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 25 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 26 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 27 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 28 incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent 29 or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation 30 Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries 31 sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment 32 with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered 33 under this Act and has retired as a participating member 34 under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is -15- LRB9001294EGfg 1 ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of 2 the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies 3 the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except 4 that such person is made ineligible to participate in the 5 State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the 6 first paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension 7 Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. 8 "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for 9 benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with 10 Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes 11 each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local 12 government, including persons appointed as trustees of 13 sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service 14 of the sanitary district, and each employee in the service of 15 a qualified rehabilitation facility and each full-time 16 employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence 17 shelter or service, as determined according to rules 18 promulgated by the Director. 19 (l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired 20 employee or survivor. 21 (m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those 22 coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her 23 voluntary election, and at his or her own expense. 24 (n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health 25 benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted 26 for by the Director under this Act. 27 (o) "Health plan" means a self-insured health insurance 28 program offered by the State of Illinois for the purposes of 29 benefiting employees by means of providing, among others, 30 wellness programs, utilization reviews, second opinions and 31 medical fee reviews, as well as for paying for hospital and 32 medical care up to the maximum coverage provided by the plan, 33 to its members and their dependents. 34 (p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an -16- LRB9001294EGfg 1 annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact 2 that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term 3 also includes any person formerly employed by the University 4 of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be 5 an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made 6 ineligible to participate in the State Universities 7 Retirement System by clause (4) of the first paragraph of 8 Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 9 (q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a 10 survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also 11 includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who 12 satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such 13 person is made ineligible to participate in the State 14 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 15 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and 16 (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed 17 by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension 18 Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that 19 such person was made ineligible to participate in the State 20 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 21 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 22 (r) "Medical services" means the services provided 23 within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all 24 categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. 25 (s) "Unit of local government" means any county, 26 municipality, township, school district, special district or 27 other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, 28 which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in 29 respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit 30 association with a membership that primarily includes 31 townships and township officials, that has duties that 32 include provision of research service, dissemination of 33 information, and other acts for the purpose of improving 34 township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in -17- LRB9001294EGfg 1 accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any 2 not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership 3 consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own 4 utility system, and provides research, training, 5 dissemination of information, or other acts to promote 6 cooperation between and among municipalities that provide 7 utility services and for the advancement of the goals and 8 purposes of its membership; and the Illinois Association of 9 Park Districts. "Qualified local government" means a unit of 10 local government approved by the Director and participating 11 in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of 12 this Act. 13 (t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any 14 not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the 15 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or 16 certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor 17 to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental 18 Disabilities) to provide services to persons with 19 disabilities and which receives funds from the State of 20 Illinois for providing those services, approved by the 21 Director and participating in a program created under 22 subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act. 23 (u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" 24 means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and 25 its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human 26 Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public 27 Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program 28 created under subsection (k) of Section 10. 29 (v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who: 30 (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; 31 and 32 (2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement 33 annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; 34 and -18- LRB9001294EGfg 1 (3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable 2 service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or 3 (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered 4 under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the 5 survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years 6 of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois 7 Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance 8 program offered under that Article on the effective date 9 of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or 10 survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under 11 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code. 12 (w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who: 13 (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in 14 this Section; and 15 (2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) 16 dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or 17 her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) 18 unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 19 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an 20 accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS 21 benefit recipient, eligible as a dependent for Illinois 22 State income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or 23 was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent 24 beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under 25 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 26 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped as 27 defined in the Illinois Insurance Code. 28 (x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to 29 individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced 30 training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation 31 by the President of the United States with approved pay and 32 benefits. 33 (y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to 34 individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component -19- LRB9001294EGfg 1 of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or 2 authorized under military leave with pay and benefits. 3 (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-21, eff. 6-21-95; 4 89-25, eff. 6-21-95; 89-76, eff. 7-1-95; 89-324, eff. 5 8-13-95; 89-430, eff. 12-15-95; 89-502, eff. 7-1-96; 89-507, 6 eff. 7-1-97; 89-628, eff. 8-9-96; revised 8-23-96.) 7 Section 10. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by 8 changing Sections 15-107, 15-134, 15-136, 15-146, 15-154, 9 15-157, 15-158.2, and 15-165 and adding Section 15-136.4 as 10 follows: 11 (40 ILCS 5/15-107) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-107) 12 Sec. 15-107. Employee. 13 (a) "Employee" means any member of the educational, 14 administrative, secretarial, clerical, mechanical, labor or 15 other staff of an employer whose employment is permanent and 16 continuous or who is employed in a position in which services 17 are expected to be rendered on a continuous basis for at 18 least 4 months or one academic term, whichever is less, who 19 (A) receives payment for personal services on a warrant 20 issued pursuant to a payroll voucher certified by an employer 21 and drawn by the State Comptroller upon the State Treasurer 22 or by an employer upon trust, federal or other funds, or (B) 23 is on a leave of absence without pay. Employment which is 24 irregular, intermittent or temporary shall not be considered 25 continuous for purposes of this paragraph. 26 However, a person is not an "employee" if he or she: 27 (1) is a student enrolled in and regularly 28 attending classes in a college or university which is an 29 employer, and is employed on a temporary basis at less 30 than full time; 31 (2) is currently receiving a retirement annuity or 32 a disability retirement annuity under Section 15-153.2 -20- LRB9001294EGfg 1 from this System; 2 (3) is on a military leave of absence; 3 (4) is eligible to participate in the Federal Civil 4 Service Retirement System and is currently making 5 contributions to that system based upon earnings paid by 6 an employer; 7 (5) is on leave of absence without pay for more 8 than 60 days immediately following termination of 9 disability benefits under this Article; 10 (6) is hired after June 30, 1979 as a public 11 service employment program participant under the Federal 12 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and receives 13 earnings in whole or in part from funds provided under 14 that Act; 15 (7) is employed on or after July 1, 1991 to perform 16 services that are excluded by subdivision (a)(7)(f) or 17 (a)(19) of Section 210 of the federal Social Security Act 18 from the definition of employment given in that Section 19 (42 U.S.C. 410); or 20 (8) participates in an optional program for 21 part-time workers under Section 15-158.1.; or22(9) participates in an optional program for23employees under Section 15-158.2.24 (b) Any employer may, by filing a written notice with 25 the board, exclude from the definition of "employee" all 26 persons employed pursuant to a federally funded contract 27 entered into after July 1, 1982 with a federal military 28 department in a program providing training in military 29 courses to federal military personnel on a military site 30 owned by the United States Government, if this exclusion is 31 not prohibited by the federally funded contract or federal 32 laws or rules governing the administration of the contract. 33 (c) Any person appointed by the Governor under the Civil 34 Administrative Code of the State is an employee, if he or she -21- LRB9001294EGfg 1 is a participant in this system on the effective date of the 2 appointment. 3 (d) A participant on lay-off status under civil service 4 rules is considered an employee for not more than 120 days 5 from the date of the lay-off. 6 (e) A participant is considered an employee during (1) 7 the first 60 days of disability leave, (2) the period, not to 8 exceed one year, in which his or her eligibility for 9 disability benefits is being considered by the board or 10 reviewed by the courts, and (3) the period he or she receives 11 disability benefits under the provisions of Section 15-152, 12 workers' compensation or occupational disease benefits, or 13 disability income under an insurance contract financed wholly 14 or partially by the employer. 15 (f) Absences without pay, other than formal leaves of 16 absence, of less than 30 calendar days, are not considered as 17 an interruption of a person's status as an employee. If such 18 absences during any period of 12 months exceed 30 work days, 19 the employee status of the person is considered as 20 interrupted as of the 31st work day. 21 (g) A staff member whose employment contract requires 22 services during an academic term is to be considered an 23 employee during the summer and other vacation periods, unless 24 he or she declines an employment contract for the succeeding 25 academic term or his or her employment status is otherwise 26 terminated, and he or she receives no earnings during these 27 periods. 28 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 29 (40 ILCS 5/15-134) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-134) 30 Sec. 15-134. Participant. 31 (a) Each person shall, as a condition of employment, 32 become a participant and be subject to this Article on the 33 date that he or she becomes an employee, makes an election to -22- LRB9001294EGfg 1 participate in, or otherwise becomes a participant in one of 2 the retirement programs offered under this Article, whichever 3 date is later. 4 An employee who becomes a participant shall continue to 5 be a participant until he or she becomes an annuitant, dies 6 or accepts a refund of contributions, except that a person 7 shall not be deemed a participant while participating in an 8 optional program for part-time workers established under 9 Section 15-158.1or participating in an optional program for10employees established under Section 15-158.2. 11 (b) A person employed concurrently by 2 or more 12 employers is eligible to participate in the system on 13 compensation received from all employers; however, his or her 14 combined basic compensation and combined earnings shall not 15 exceed the basic compensation and earnings which would have 16 been payable for full-time employment by the employer under 17 which the employee's basic compensation is the highest. 18 However, effective for all employment on or after July 1, 19 1991, where a person is employed to render service to one 20 employer during an academic or summer term and is employed by 21 another employer to render service to it during the 22 succeeding, nonoverlapping academic or summer term, then 23 exclusively for the purposes of this Section, the person 24 shall be considered to be successively employed by more than 25 one employer, rather than concurrently employed by 2 or more 26 employers. 27 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 28 (40 ILCS 5/15-136) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-136) 29 Sec. 15-136. Retirement annuities - Amount. 30 (a) The amount of the retirement annuity shall be 31 determined by whichever of the following rules is applicable 32 and provides the largest annuity: 33 Rule 1: The retirement annuity shall be 1.67% of final -23- LRB9001294EGfg 1 rate of earnings for each of the first 10 years of service, 2 1.90% for each of the next 10 years of service, 2.10% for 3 each year of service in excess of 20 but not exceeding 30, 4 and 2.30% for each year in excess of 30, except that the 5 annuity for those persons having made an election under 6 Section 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the 7 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 8 provisions of Section 15-136.4. 9 Rule 2: The retirement annuity shall be the sum of the 10 following, determined from amounts credited to the 11 participant in accordance with the actuarial tables and the 12 prescribed rate of interest in effect at the time the 13 retirement annuity begins: 14 (i) The normal annuity which can be provided on an 15 actuariallyactuarialequivalent basis, by the accumulated 16 normal contributions as of the date the annuity begins; and 17 (ii) an annuity from employer contributions of an amount 18 which can be provided on an actuarially equivalent basis from 19 the accumulated normal contributions made by the participant 20 under Section 15-113.6 and Section 15-113.7 plus 1.4 times 21 all other accumulated normal contributions made by the 22 participant, except that the annuity for those persons having 23 made an election under Section 15-154(a-1) shall be 24 calculated and payable under the portable retirement benefit 25 program pursuant to the provisions of Section 15-136.4. 26 Rule 3: The retirement annuity of a participant who is 27 employed at least one-half time during the period on which 28 his or her final rate of earnings is based, shall be equal to 29 the participant's years of service not to exceed 30, 30 multiplied by (1) $96 if the participant's final rate of 31 earnings is less than $3,500, (2) $108 if the final rate of 32 earnings is at least $3,500 but less than $4,500, (3) $120 if 33 the final rate of earnings is at least $4,500 but less than 34 $5,500, (4) $132 if the final rate of earnings is at least -24- LRB9001294EGfg 1 $5,500 but less than $6,500, (5) $144 if the final rate of 2 earnings is at least $6,500 but less than $7,500, (6) $156 if 3 the final rate of earnings is at least $7,500 but less than 4 $8,500, (7) $168 if the final rate of earnings is at least 5 $8,500 but less than $9,500, and (8) $180 if the final rate 6 of earnings is $9,500 or more, except that the annuity for 7 those persons having made an election under Section 8 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the 9 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 10 provisions of Section 15-136.4. 11 Rule 4: A participant who is at least age 50 and has 25 12 or more years of service as a police officer or firefighter, 13 and a participant who is age 55 or over and has at least 20 14 but less than 25 years of service as a police officer or 15 firefighter, shall be entitled to a retirement annuity of 2 16 1/4% of the final rate of earnings for each of the first 10 17 years of service as a police officer or firefighter, 2 1/2% 18 for each of the next 10 years of service as a police officer 19 or firefighter, and 2 3/4% for each year of service as a 20 police officer or firefighter in excess of 20, except that 21 the annuity for those persons have made an election under 22 Section 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the 23 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 24 provisions of Section 15-136.4. The retirement annuity for 25 all other service shall be computed under Rule 1, payable 26 under the portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 27 provisions of Section 15-136.4, if applicable. 28 (b) The retirement annuity provided under Rules 1 and 3 29 above shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% for each month the 30 participant is under age 60 at the time of retirement. 31 However, this reduction shall not apply in the following 32 cases: 33 (1) For a disabled participant whose disability 34 benefits have been discontinued because he or she has -25- LRB9001294EGfg 1 exhausted eligibility for disability benefits under 2 clause (6)(5)of Section 15-152; 3 (2) For a participant who has at least 35 years of 4 service; or 5 (3) For that portion of a retirement annuity which 6 has been provided on account of service of the 7 participant during periods when he or she performed the 8 duties of a police officer or firefighter, if these 9 duties were performed for at least 5 years immediately 10 preceding the date the retirement annuity is to begin. 11 (c) The maximum retirement annuity provided under Rules 12 1, 2, and 4 shall be the lesser of (1) the annual limit of 13 benefits as specified in Section 415 of the Internal Revenue 14 Code of 1986, as such Section may be amended from time to 15 time and as such benefit limits shall be adjusted by the 16 Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and (2) 75% of final rate 17 of earnings; however, this limitation of 75% of final rate of 18 earnings shall not apply to a person who is a participant or 19 annuitant on September 15, 1977 if it results in a retirement 20 annuity less than that which is payable to the annuitant or 21 which would have been payable to the participant under the 22 provisions of this Article in effect on June 30, 1977. 23 (d) An annuitant whose status as an employee terminates 24 after August 14, 1969 shall receive automatic increases in 25 his or her retirement annuity as follows: 26 Effective January 1 immediately following the date the 27 retirement annuity begins, the annuitant shall receive an 28 increase in his or her monthly retirement annuity of 0.125% 29 of the monthly retirement annuity provided under Rule 1, Rule 30 2, Rule 3, or Rule 4, contained in this Section, multiplied 31 by the number of full months which elapsed from the date the 32 retirement annuity payments began to January 1, 1972, plus 33 0.1667% of such annuity, multiplied by the number of full 34 months which elapsed from January 1, 1972, or the date the -26- LRB9001294EGfg 1 retirement annuity payments began, whichever is later, to 2 January 1, 1978, plus 0.25% of such annuity multiplied by the 3 number of full months which elapsed from January 1, 1978, or 4 the date the retirement annuity payments began, whichever is 5 later, to the effective date of the increase. 6 The annuitant shall receive an increase in his or her 7 monthly retirement annuity on each January 1 thereafter 8 during the annuitant's life of 3% of the monthly annuity 9 provided under Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, or Rule 4 contained in 10 this Section. The change made under this subsection by P.A. 11 81-970 is effective January 1, 1980 and applies to each 12 annuitant whose status as an employee terminates before or 13 after that date. 14 Beginning January 1, 1990, all automatic annual increases 15 payable under this Section shall be calculated as a 16 percentage of the total annuity payable at the time of the 17 increase, including all increases previously granted under 18 this Article. The change made in this subsection by P.A. 19 85-1008 is effective January 26, 1988, and is applicable 20 without regard to whether status as an employee terminated 21 before that date. 22 (e) If, on January 1, 1987, or the date the retirement 23 annuity payment period begins, whichever is later, the sum of 24 the retirement annuity provided under Rule 1 or Rule 2 of 25 this Section and the automatic annual increases provided 26 under the preceding subsection or Section 15-136.1, amounts 27 to less than the retirement annuity which would be provided 28 by Rule 3, the retirement annuity shall be increased as of 29 January 1, 1987, or the date the retirement annuity payment 30 period begins, whichever is later, to the amount which would 31 be provided by Rule 3 of this Section. Such increased amount 32 shall be considered as the retirement annuity in determining 33 benefits provided under other Sections of this Article. This 34 paragraph applies without regard to whether status as an -27- LRB9001294EGfg 1 employee terminated before the effective date of this 2 amendatory Act of 1987, provided that the annuitant was 3 employed at least one-half time during the period on which 4 the final rate of earnings was based. 5 (f) A participant is entitled to such additional annuity 6 as may be provided on an actuariallyactuarialequivalent 7 basis, by any accumulated additional contributions to his or 8 her credit. However, the additional contributions made by 9 the participant toward the automatic increases in annuity 10 provided under this Section shall not be taken into account 11 in determining the amount of such additional annuity. 12 (g) If, (1) by law, a function of a governmental unit, 13 as defined by Section 20-107 of this Code, is transferred in 14 whole or in part to an employer, and (2) a participant 15 transfers employment from such governmental unit to such 16 employer within 6 months after the transfer of the function, 17 and (3) the sum of (A) the annuity payable to the participant 18 under Rule 1, 2, or 3 of this Section (B) all proportional 19 annuities payable to the participant by all other retirement 20 systems covered by Article 20, and (C) the initial primary 21 insurance amount to which the participant is entitled under 22 the Social Security Act, is less than the retirement annuity 23 which would have been payable if all of the participant's 24 pension credits validated under Section 20-109 had been 25 validated under this system, a supplemental annuity equal to 26 the difference in such amounts shall be payable to the 27 participant. 28 (h) On January 1, 1981, an annuitant who was receiving a 29 retirement annuity on or before January 1, 1971 shall have 30 his or her retirement annuity then being paid increased $1 31 per month for each year of creditable service. On January 1, 32 1982, an annuitant whose retirement annuity began on or 33 before January 1, 1977, shall have his or her retirement 34 annuity then being paid increased $1 per month for each year -28- LRB9001294EGfg 1 of creditable service. 2 (i) On January 1, 1987, any annuitant whose retirement 3 annuity began on or before January 1, 1977, shall have the 4 monthly retirement annuity increased by an amount equal to 8¢ 5 per year of creditable service times the number of years that 6 have elapsed since the annuity began. 7 (Source: P.A. 86-272; 86-273; 86-1028; revised 5-17-96.) 8 (40 ILCS 5/15-136.4 new) 9 Sec. 15-136.4. Portable Retirement Benefit Program. 10 (a) For purposes of this Section, "eligible spouse" 11 means the husband or wife of a participant to whom the 12 participant is married on the date the participant's annuity 13 begins. However, if the participant should die prior to the 14 date the annuity would have begun, then "eligible spouse" 15 means the husband or wife, if any, to whom the participant 16 was married throughout the one-year period preceding the date 17 of his or her death. 18 (b) If a participant has an eligible spouse on the date 19 his or her annuity payments commence, the annuity shall be 20 paid in the form of a 50% joint and survivor annuity unless 21 the participant elects otherwise in writing and his or her 22 eligible spouse consents to that election. Under a 50% joint 23 and survivor annuity, a reduced amount shall be paid to the 24 participant for his or her lifetime and his or her eligible 25 spouse, if surviving at the participant's death, shall be 26 entitled to receive thereafter a lifetime survivorship 27 annuity in a monthly amount equal to 50% of the reduced 28 monthly amount that was payable to the participant. The 29 reduced amount payable to the participant under the 50% joint 30 and survivor annuity shall be determined so that the 31 aggregate of the annuity payments expected to be made to the 32 participant and his or her eligible spouse is the actuarial 33 equivalent of a single-life annuity. The last payment of a -29- LRB9001294EGfg 1 50% joint and survivor annuity shall be made as of the first 2 day of the month in which the death of the survivor occurs. 3 (c) Instead of the 50% joint and survivor annuity, a 4 participant may elect in writing, within the 90-day period 5 prior to the date his or her annuity payments commence, and 6 only with the consent of his or her eligible spouse, to 7 receive a monthly amount in the form of a single-life 8 annuity. A participant may also elect instead an optional 9 form of benefit under subsection (k). However, if the 10 participant does elect an optional form of benefit under 11 subsection (k) and if the contingent annuitant under the 12 option is not the participant's eligible spouse, then the 13 optional election shall be canceled and the annuity shall be 14 paid in the form of a 50% joint and survivor annuity unless, 15 within the 90-day period preceding the annuity commencement 16 date, the eligible spouse consents to the optional election. 17 (d) A participant may also revoke any election made 18 under this Section at any time during the 90-day period 19 preceding the date the participant's annuity commences if the 20 purpose of such revocation is to reinstate coverage under the 21 50% joint and survivor annuity. 22 (e) The eligible spouse's consent to any election made 23 pursuant to this Section that requires the eligible spouse's 24 consent shall be in writing and shall acknowledge the effect 25 of the consent. In addition, the eligible spouse's signature 26 on the written consent must be witnessed by a notary public. 27 The eligible spouse's consent need not be obtained if the 28 system is satisfied that there is no eligible spouse, that 29 the eligible spouse cannot be located, or because of any 30 other relevant circumstances. An eligible spouse's consent 31 under this Section is valid only with respect to the 32 specified alternate contingent annuitant designated by the 33 participant. If the alternate contingent annuitant is 34 subsequently changed, a new consent by the eligible spouse is -30- LRB9001294EGfg 1 required. The eligible spouse's consent to an election made 2 by a participant pursuant to this Section, once made, may not 3 be revoked by the eligible spouse. 4 (f) Within a reasonable period of time preceding the 5 date a participant's annuity commences, a participant shall 6 be supplied with a written explanation of (1) the terms and 7 conditions of the 50% joint and survivor annuity, (2) the 8 participant's right, if any, to elect a single-life annuity 9 or an optional form of payment under subsection (k) in lieu 10 of the 50% joint and survivor annuity and subject, in certain 11 cases, to his or her eligible spouse's consent, and (3) the 12 participant's right to reinstate coverage under the 50% joint 13 and survivor annuity prior to his or her annuity commencement 14 date by revoking an election of a single-life annuity or an 15 optional form of benefit under subsection (k). 16 (g) If a participant does not have an eligible spouse 17 on the date his or her annuity payments commence, the 18 participant shall receive a single-life annuity, subject to 19 his or her right, if any, to elect an optional form of 20 benefit. The last payment of the single-life annuity shall be 21 made as of the first day of the month in which the death of 22 the participant occurs. 23 (h) A participant with a least 5 years of service whose 24 employment has not terminated shall be covered by the 50% 25 joint and survivor annuity provisions so that if he or she 26 dies prior to termination of employment, his or her eligible 27 spouse will be entitled to receive an annuity. The annuity 28 payable under this subsection (h) to the eligible spouse 29 shall be actuarially equivalent to the amount that would be 30 payable as a survivor annuity under subsection (b) if (1) in 31 the case of a participant who dies after the date on which 32 the participant attained the earliest retirement age, the 33 participant had retired with an immediate qualified joint and 34 survivor annuity on the day before the participant's date of -31- LRB9001294EGfg 1 death; or (2) in the case of a participant who dies on or 2 before the date on which the participant would have attained 3 the earliest retirement age, the participant had separated 4 from service on the date of death, survived to the earliest 5 retirement age, retired with an immediate qualified joint and 6 survivor annuity at the earliest retirement age, and died on 7 the day after the day on which the participant would have 8 attained the earliest retirement age. 9 The annuity payable to an eligible spouse of a 10 participant shall commence as of the beginning of the month 11 next following the later of the date of death or the date the 12 participant would have met the eligibility requirements for 13 an annuity and shall continue through the beginning of the 14 month in which the death of the eligible spouse occurs. 15 No benefit shall be payable under this subsection (h) for 16 death during employment after the participant has satisfied 17 the requirements for retirement if an option is effective 18 under subsection (k). 19 (i) A participant who (1) has terminated employment with 20 at least 5 years of service, (2) has not begun receiving 21 annuity payments, (3) has not taken a refund under Section 22 15-154(a-2), and (4) has not elected an effective option 23 under subsection (k), shall be covered by the 50% joint and 24 survivor annuity provisions of subsection (b) until the date 25 his or her annuity payments commence. If the participant 26 dies before the date his or her annuity payments commence, 27 the participant's surviving eligible spouse shall receive an 28 annuity computed in accordance with the applicable provisions 29 of this Section as if the participant's annuity payments had 30 commenced on the first day of the month coincident with or 31 next following the later of his or her date of death or the 32 date the participant would have been eligible for a 33 retirement annuity based on service prior to his or her 34 death. The annuity payable to such an eligible spouse shall -32- LRB9001294EGfg 1 commence on the first day of the month coincident with or 2 next following the later of the participant's date of death 3 or the date the participant would have been eligible for a 4 retirement annuity based on service prior to his death and 5 shall continue through the beginning of the month in which 6 the death of the eligible spouse occurs. 7 (j) The provisions of subsection (i) shall not affect 8 the right of a participant to elect a single-life annuity, 9 pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b). 10 (k) By filing a timely election with the system, a 11 participant who will be eligible to receive a retirement 12 annuity under this Section may designate his or her spouse or 13 any person approved by the system as his or her contingent 14 annuitant and elect to receive an annuity payable in 15 accordance with one of the following options, instead of the 16 annuity to which he or she may otherwise become entitled: 17 Option 1: The participant shall receive a reduced 18 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 19 100% of such reduced amount shall, after the 20 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 21 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 22 Option 2: The participant shall receive a reduced 23 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 24 75% of such reduced annuity shall, after the 25 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 26 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 27 Option 3: The participant shall receive a reduced 28 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 29 50% of such reduced annuity shall, after the 30 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 31 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 32 The aggregate of the annuity payments expected to be paid 33 to a participant and his contingent annuitant under any of 34 the above options shall be the actuarial equivalent of the -33- LRB9001294EGfg 1 annuity that the participant is otherwise entitled to receive 2 upon retirement. 3 Under no circumstances may an option be elected, changed, 4 or revoked after the date the participant's annuity 5 commences. An option in favor of a contingent annuitant who 6 is not the participant's eligible spouse may be revoked at 7 any time prior to the date the participant's annuity payments 8 commence. If the contingent annuitant under the elected 9 option is not the participant's eligible spouse, then the 10 election is valid only if the eligible spouse consents to the 11 participant's optional election and to the specific 12 contingent annuitant within the 90-day period preceding the 13 date the participant's annuity commences. 14 An election made pursuant to this subsection (k) shall 15 become inoperative if the participant's employment terminates 16 before he or she is eligible for a retirement annuity, or if 17 the participant or the contingent annuitant dies before the 18 date the participant's annuity payments commence, or if the 19 eligible spouse's consent is required and not given. An 20 effective option under this subsection (k) takes the place of 21 any benefit otherwise payable under this Section, and the 22 form made available by the system for election of the option 23 shall so specify. 24 (1) Within the appropriate applicable period under 25 Section 417 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 26 from time to time, a participant shall be supplied with a 27 written explanation of (1) the terms and conditions of the 28 preretirement survivor annuity under subsections (h) and (i), 29 (2) the participant's right, if any, to elect a single-life 30 annuity or an optional form of payment under subsection (k) 31 in lieu of the preretirement survivor annuity and subject, in 32 certain cases, to his or her eligible spouse's consent, and 33 (3) the participant's right to reinstate coverage under the 34 preretirement survivor annuity by revoking an election of a -34- LRB9001294EGfg 1 single-life annuity or an optional form of benefit under 2 subsection (k). 3 (40 ILCS 5/15-146) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-146) 4 Sec. 15-146. Survivors insurance benefits - Minimum 5 amounts. 6 (a) The minimum total survivors annuity payable on 7 account of the death of a participant shall be 50% of the 8 retirement annuity which would have been provided under Rule 9 1, Rule 2, or Rule 3 of Section 15-136 upon the participant's 10 attainment of the minimum age at which the penalty for early 11 retirement would not be applicable or the date of the 12 participant's death, whichever is later, on the basis of 13 credits earned prior to the time of death. 14 (b) The minimum total survivors annuity payable on 15 account of the death of an annuitant shall be 50% of the 16 retirement annuity which is payable under Section 15-136 at 17 the time of death or 50% of the disability retirement annuity 18 payable under Section 15-153.2. This minimum survivors 19 annuity shall apply to each participant and annuitant who 20 dies after September 16, 1979, whether or not his or her 21 employee status terminates before or after that date. 22 (c) If an annuitant has elected a reversionary annuity, 23 the retirement annuity referred to in this Section is that 24 which would have been payable had such election not been 25 filed. 26 (d) If a participant has made the election provided for 27 under Section 15-154(a-1), the minimum survivor benefit shall 28 be determined under Section 15-136.4. 29 (Source: P.A. 83-1362; 83-1440.) 30 (40 ILCS 5/15-154) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-154) 31 Sec. 15-154. Refunds. 32 (a) A participant whose status as an employee is -35- LRB9001294EGfg 1 terminated, regardless of cause, or who has been on lay off 2 status for more than 120 days, and who is not on leave of 3 absence, is entitled to a refund of contributions upon 4 application; except that not more than one such refund 5 application may be made during any academic year. 6 Except as set forth in subsections (a-1) and (a-2), the 7 refund shall be the sum of the accumulated normal, additional 8 and survivors insurance contributions, less the amount of 9 interest credited on these contributions each year in excess 10 of 4 1/2% of the amount on which interest was calculated. 11 (a-1) Every person who becomes a participating employee 12 after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 may 13 elect within 60 days of becoming a participant to have any 14 refund calculated pursuant to subsection (a-2) by forgoing 15 all survivors insurance benefits to which the person's 16 survivors would otherwise be entitled under this Article and 17 by forgoing the death benefits under Sections 15-141 and 18 15-142. This election is irrevocable and may be made by 19 filing an election with the system on such form as the 20 Executive Director shall prescribe. 21 Each person who is a participating employee on the 22 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 shall have a 23 one-time option to elect to have his or her refund calculated 24 pursuant to subsection (a-2), by forgoing all survivors 25 insurance benefits to which the person's survivors would 26 otherwise be entitled under this Article and by forgoing the 27 death benefits under Sections 15-141 and 15-142. The 28 election will not be effective until one year after the 29 election is filed with the system. This election is 30 irrevocable and may be made by filing an election with the 31 system, on such form as the Executive Director shall 32 prescribe, within one year of the effective date of this 33 amendatory Act of 1997. 34 A person may make the one-time irrevocable election -36- LRB9001294EGfg 1 authorized under this Section or the election authorized 2 under Section 15-158.2(g), but may not make both elections. 3 Any person interested in electing the portable retirement 4 benefit program provided under this Section and Section 5 15-136.4 must be given a consultation with the State 6 Universities Retirement System before making that election. 7 (a-2) The refund elected under subsection (a-1) shall be 8 the sum of the participant's accumulated normal and 9 additional contributions, as defined in Sections 15-116 and 10 15-117. If the participant terminates with 5 or more years 11 of service for employment as defined in Section 15-113.1, he 12 or she shall also be entitled to a refund of employer 13 contributions in an amount equal to the sum of the 14 accumulated normal and additional contributions, as defined 15 in Sections 15-116 and 15-117. 16 (b) Upon acceptance of a refund, the participant 17 forfeits all accrued rights and credits in the System, and if 18 subsequently reemployed, the participant shall be considered 19 a new employee subject to all the qualifying conditions for 20 participation and eligibility for benefits applicable to new 21 employees. If such person again becomes a participating 22 employee and continues as such for 2 years, or is employed by 23 an employer and participates for at least 2 years in the 24 Federal Civil Service Retirement System, all such rights, 25 credits, and previous status as a participant shall be 26 restored upon repayment of the amount of the refund, together 27 with compound interest thereon from the date the refund was 28 received to the date of repayment at the rate of 6% per annum 29 through August 31, 1982, and at the effective rates after 30 that date. 31 (c) If a participant has made survivors insurance 32 contributions, but has no survivors insurance beneficiary 33 upon retirement, he or she shall be entitled to a refund of 34 the accumulated survivors insurance contributions, or to an -37- LRB9001294EGfg 1 additional annuity the value of which is equal to the 2 accumulated survivors insurance contributions. 3 (d) A participant, upon application, is entitled to a 4 refund of his or her accumulated additional contributions 5 except those covering the cost of the annual increase in the 6 retirement annuity provided under Section 15-136. Upon the 7 acceptance of such a refund of accumulated additional 8 contributions, the participant forfeits all rights and 9 credits which may have accrued because of such contributions. 10 (e) A participant who terminates his or her employee 11 status and elects to waive service credit under Section 12 15-154.2, is entitled to a refund of the accumulated normal, 13 additional and survivors insurance contributions, if any, 14 which were credited the participant for this service, or to 15 an additional annuity the value of which is equal to the 16 accumulated normal, additional and survivors insurance 17 contributions, if any; except that not more than one such 18 refund application may be made during any academic year. Upon 19 acceptance of this refund, the participant forfeits all 20 rights and credits accrued because of this service. 21 (f) If a police officer or firefighter receives a 22 retirement annuity under Rule 1, 2, or 3 of Section 15-136, 23 he or she shall be entitled at retirement to a refund of the 24 difference between his or her accumulated normal 25 contributions and the normal contributions which would have 26 accumulated had such person filed a waiver of the retirement 27 formula provided by Rule 4 of Section 15-136. 28 (g) If, at the time of retirement, a participant would 29 be entitled to a retirement annuity under Rule 1, 2, 3 or 4 30 of Section 15-136 that exceeds the maximum specified in 31 clause (1) of subsection (c) of Section 15-136, he or she 32 shall be entitled to a refund of the employee contributions, 33 if any, paid under Section 15-157 after the date upon which 34 continuance of such contributions would have otherwise caused -38- LRB9001294EGfg 1 the retirement annuity to exceed this maximum, plus compound 2 interest at the effective rates. 3 (Source: P.A. 87-8; 87-794; 87-895; 87-1265; 88-45.) 4 (40 ILCS 5/15-157) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-157) 5 Sec. 15-157. Employee Contributions. 6 (a) Each participating employee shall make contributions 7 towards the retirement annuity of each payment of earnings 8 applicable to employment under this system on and after the 9 date of becoming a participant as follows: Prior to 10 September 1, 1949, 3 1/2% of earnings; from September 1, 1949 11 to August 31, 1955, 5%; from September 1, 1955 to August 31, 12 1969, 6%; from September 1, 1969, 6 1/2%. These 13 contributions are to be considered as normal contributions 14 for purposes of this Article. 15 Each participant who is a police officer or firefighter 16 shall make normal contributions of 8% of each payment of 17 earnings applicable to employment as a police officer or 18 firefighter under this system on or after September 1, 1981, 19 unless he or she files with the board within 60 days after 20 the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 or 60 days 21 after the board receives notice that he or she is employed as 22 a police officer or firefighter, whichever is later, a 23 written notice waiving the retirement formula provided by 24 Rule 4 of Section 15-136. This waiver shall be irrevocable. 25 If a participant had met the conditions set forth in Section 26 15-132.1 prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act 27 of 1991 but failed to make the additional normal 28 contributions required by this paragraph, he or she may elect 29 to pay the additional contributions plus compound interest at 30 the effective rate. If such payment is received by the 31 board, the service shall be considered as police officer 32 service in calculating the retirement annuity under Rule 4 of 33 Section 15-136. -39- LRB9001294EGfg 1 (b) Starting September 1, 1969, each participating 2 employee shall makeadditionalcontributions of 1/2 of 1% of 3 earnings to finance a portion of the cost of the annual 4 increases in retirement annuity provided under Section 5 15-136. 6 (c) Each participating employee shall makesurvivors7insurancecontributions of 1% of earnings applicable under 8 this system on and after August 1, 1959. The contribution 9 made under this subsection shall be used to finance survivors 10 insurance benefits, unless the participant has made an 11 election under Section 15-154(a-1), in which case the 12 contribution made under this subsection shall be used to 13 finance the benefits obtained under that election. 14 Contributions in excess of $80 during any fiscal year 15 beginning August 31, 1969 and in excess of $120 during any 16 fiscal year thereafter until September 1, 1971 shall be 17 considered as additional contributions for purposes of this 18 Article. 19 (d) If the board by board rule so permits and subject to 20 such conditions and limitations as may be specified in its 21 rules, a participant may make other additional contributions 22 of such percentage of earnings or amounts as the participant 23 shall elect in a written notice thereof received by the 24 board. 25 (e) That fraction of a participant's total accumulated 26 normal contributions, the numerator of which is equal to the 27 number of years of service in excess of that which is 28 required to qualify for the maximum retirement annuity, and 29 the denominator of which is equal to the total service of the 30 participant, shall be considered as accumulated additional 31 contributions. The determination of the applicable maximum 32 annuity and the adjustment in contributions required by this 33 provision shall be made as of the date of the participant's 34 retirement. -40- LRB9001294EGfg 1 (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a participating 2 employee shall not be required to make contributions under 3 this Section after the date upon which continuance of such 4 contributions would otherwise cause his or her retirement 5 annuity to exceed the maximum retirement annuity as specified 6 in clause (1) of subsection (c) of Section 15-136. 7 (Source: P.A. 86-272; 86-1488.) 8 (40 ILCS 5/15-158.2) 9 Sec. 15-158.2. Optional retirement program for 10 educational employees. 11 (a) Purpose. The General Assembly finds that it is 12 important for colleges and universities to be able to attract 13 and retain the most qualified employees and that in order to 14 attract and retain these employees, colleges and universities 15 should have the flexibility to provide an alternative 16 retirement program for eligible employeespersonswho elect 17 not to participate in the other retirement programsplan of18contributions and benefits otherwiseprovided under this 19 Article. 20 (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, 21 "eligible employeeperson" means an employee who is eligible 22 to participate in the State UniversitiesUniversity23 Retirement Systemwithout respect to Section 15-107(a)(9)and 24 who does not have sufficient age and service to qualify for a 25 retirement annuity under Section 15-135. A "currently 26 eligible employeeperson" is an employeea personwho becomes 27 an eligible employeepersonon the effective date of the 28 optional retirement program established by the employee's 29person'semployer. A "newly eligible employeeperson" is an 30 employeea personwho becomes an eligible employeeperson31 after the effective date of the optional retirement program 32 established by the employee'sperson'semployer. 33 (c) Program. Each employer subject to this Article may -41- LRB9001294EGfg 1 elect to establish an optional retirement program under this 2 Section for the eligible employees whompersons thatit 3 employs. The optional retirement program shall provide 4 retirement benefits for participating employeespersons5 through the purchase of annuity contracts, either fixed or 6 variable or a combination thereof, through the purchase of 7 mutual funds, or through both and shallmayalso provide for 8death anddisability benefits. 9 The State Universities Retirement System shall be the 10 plan sponsor for the program. Consistent with its fiduciary 11 duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the program, 12 the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of 13 program administration as it sees fit toThe program may14provide for administration of the program bycompanies 15 authorized to do business in this State, toorthe employers, 16employeror to a combination of both, but shall not require17any action by the State Universities Retirement System or its18Board of Trustees. Two or more employers may agree to19establish a joint program under this Section. 20 The planprogrammust be qualified under the Internal 21 Revenue Code of 1986. 22 (d) Proposals. The System, in consultation with the 23 employers,An employer under this Sectionshall solicit 24 proposals to participate in the program from insurance and 25 annuity companies and mutual fund companies authorized to do 26conduct suchbusiness in this State. In reviewing the 27 proposals received and approving and contracting with no 28 fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, at least 2 of 29 which must be insurance and annuity companies, the Board of 30 Trustees of the Systemdeciding to implement a program, the31employershall consider, among other things, the following 32 criteria: 33 (1) the nature and extent of the benefits that 34 would be provided to the participants; -42- LRB9001294EGfg 1 (2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation 2 to the premium charged; 3 (3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs 4 and interests of the participating employeespersonsand 5 the employer; 6 (4) the ability of the company to provide benefits 7 under the contract and the financial stability of the 8 company; and 9 (5) the efficacy of the contract in the recruitment 10 and retention of employees. 11 An employer that elects to offer an optional retirement 12 program under subsection (c) may only select for 13 participation in the program 2 or more of the companies 14 approved by the Board of Trustees of the System. The System, 15 in consultation with the employers, shall periodically review 16 each approved company; a company may continue to participate 17 in the program only so long as it continues to be an approved 18 company under contract with the Board. 19 (e) System Conflict of Interest. In order to preclude 20 any conflict of interest by the System, only insurance and 21 annuity companies and mutual fund companies that are 22 authorized to do business in this State may be approved, in 23 accordance with the procedures of subsection (d), to 24 participate in this program and offer investment options for 25 program participants. 26 (f) Account Balance Transfers. Employees who are 27 participating in the program must be allowed to transfer 28 their account balances from the investment options offered by 29 one of the companies selected by the employer to the 30 investment options offered by another company so selected, 31 subject to applicable contractual provisions. 32 (g)(e)Participation. Any eligible employeeperson33employed by an employermay elect to participate in the 34 optional retirement program offered by the employer under -43- LRB9001294EGfg 1 subsection (c)that employer's optional retirement program. 2 The election must be made in writing and in the manner 3 prescribed by the Systememployer. A currently eligible 4 employeepersonmust maketakethis election within one year 5 after the effective date of the employer's optional 6 retirement program. A newly eligible employeepersonmust 7 maketakethis election within 60 days after becoming an 8 eligible employeeperson. A person may make the one-time 9 irrevocable election authorized under this Section or the 10 election authorized under Section 15-154(a-1), but may not 11 make both elections. The employer shall not remit 12 contributions on behalf of a newly eligible employeeto13either the optional retirement program orto the State 14 Universities Retirement System until the 60-day period has 15 run unless an election by the employee has been made earlier. 16 Any eligible employeepersoninterested in electing the 17 optional retirement program provided under this Section must 18 be given a consultation with the State Universities 19 Retirement System before making thatanelection. 20 Participation in the optional retirement program shall 21 begin on the first day of the first pay period following the 22 date of election, but no earlier than January 1, 1998July 1,231996. The employee'sperson'sparticipation in any other 24 retirement program administered by the System under this 25 Articlethe System, if any, with respect to the qualifying26employmentshall terminate on the date that participation in 27 the optional retirement program begins, and the employee 28personshall thereby be deemed to have elected to receive a 29 refund of contributions as provided in Section 15-154, except 30 that such deemed refund shall include interest at the 31 effective rate for the respective years, and except that any 32 funds which would have been received shall instead be 33 transferred directly to the optional retirement program as a 34 tax free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service -44- LRB9001294EGfg 1 guidelines. 2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, an 3 employeea personmay not purchase or receive service or 4 service credit applicable to any other retirement program 5 administered by the System under this Articlein this System6 for any period during which the employee was a participant 7person was not a participant in the System due to an election8to participatein theanoptional retirement program 9 established under this Section. 10 An employeeA personwho has elected to participate in 11 theanoptional retirement program under this Section must 12 continue participation while employed in an eligible 13 position, and may not participate in any other retirement 14 program administered by the System under this Articlereturn15to participation in this Systemwhile employed by that 16 employer, unless the optional retirement program is 17 terminated in accordance with subsection (i)(g). 18 Participation in the optional retirement program under 19 this Section shall constitute membership in the State 20 Universities Retirement System, although a participant under 21 this Section shall not be entitled to receive any benefits 22 under any other provisions of Article 15 or of Article 20. 23 An employee who receives a disability benefit or a retirement 24 benefit under this Section or an employee who receives a lump 25 sum distribution from a mutual fund company under this 26 Section and uses the lump sum to purchase an annuity shall be 27 considered an employee or an annuitant under Article 15 for 28 purposes of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. 29 Participation in the optional retirement program under this 30 Section creates a contractual relationship with respect to 31 the investment of the employee's account balance between the 32 employee and the company providing the investment options for 33 the employee's account balance. Participation does not 34 create a contractual relationship between the employee and -45- LRB9001294EGfg 1 the System or between the employee and his or her employer. 2Participation in an optional retirement program3established under this Section does not constitute membership4or participation in the State Universities Retirement System5or any other pension fund or retirement system of the State.6Participation in an optional retirement program established7under this Section creates a contractual relationship only8between the person and the company providing the optional9retirement program, and not between the person and the System10or the person's employer.11 (h)(f)Contributions. The contribution rate for 12 employeespersonsparticipating in theanoptional retirement 13 program under this Section shall be equal to the employee 14 contribution rate for other participants in the System. This 15 required contribution may be made as an "employer pick-up" 16 under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or 17 any successor Section. Any employeepersonparticipating in 18 the System or who elects to participate in the optional 19 retirement program shall continue to have the employer 20 "pick-up" the contribution. However, amounts picked up after 21 the election of the optional retirement program shall be 22 remitted to the optional retirement plan. In no event shall 23 an employee have an option of receiving these amounts in 24 cash. The program shall provide for employer contributions 25 at a rate of no more than 7.6% of the participating 26 employee'sperson'ssalary. TheAnoptional retirement 27 program shall be funded by contributions from employees 28personsparticipating in the program and employer 29 contributions as required by the plan. The plan shall be 30 funded in a manner consistent with the requirements ofthe31 Internal Revenue Code Section 412, and regulations 32 promulgated thereunder,and Proposed Regulation 412(b)-1(a)33 as that Section appliesthose Sections applyto money 34 purchase plans. -46- LRB9001294EGfg 1 The State of Illinois shall make contributions by 2 appropriations to the System of the employer contributions 3 required for employees who participate in the optional 4 retirement program under this Section. The amount required 5 shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and 6 paid by the State in accordance with Section 15-165. The 7 System shall not be obligated to remit the required employer 8 contributions to any insurance and annuity and mutual fund 9 companies participating in the optional retirement program 10 under subsection (d) until it has received the required 11 employer contributions from the State. In the event of a 12 deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System 13 shall implement those procedures described in subsection (c) 14 of Section 15-165 to obtain the required funding from the 15 General Revenue Fund. 16 The contributions and interest thereon, and any benefits 17 based upon them, shall be treated as provided in the funding 18 vehicles for this plan. An amount of up to 1% of each 19 participating employee'sparticipant'ssalary shallmaybe 20 taken from the employer contribution to the optional 21 retirement program and shallmaybe contributed, on the 22 employee'sparticipant'sbehalf, to a plan which the System 23 offersemployer sets upto provide forlife ordisability 24 benefits. 25 (i)(g)Termination. An optional retirement program 26 authorizedestablishedunder this Section may be terminated 27 by the employer, subject to the terms of any relevant 28 contracts, and the employer shall have no obligation to 29 reestablish an optional retirementrenew any contract or30 programestablishedunder this Section. This Section does 31 not create a right to continuedcontinueparticipation in any 32 optional retirement program set up by an employerestablished33 under this Section. If an optional retirement program is 34 terminated, the participants shall have the right to -47- LRB9001294EGfg 1 participate in one of the other retirement programs offered 2 by the System and receive service credit in such other 3 retirement program for any years of employment following the 4 termination. 5 (j)(h)Vesting. Employer contributions shall be vested 6 after five years of employment. If an employeea participant7 terminates employment prior to completing five years of 8 service, the employeeparticipantshall be entitled to a 9 benefit in accordance with the terms of the employer's 10 retirement plan which is based on the accumulation value 11 attributable to the employee'sparticipant'scontributions 12 and any investment returnexperiencethereon. Benefits for 13 employeesparticipantswho terminate with at least five years 14 of service shall be in accordance with the terms of the 15 optionalemployer'sretirement plan and based on the 16 accumulation value attributable to both the employer and the 17 employee'sparticipant'scontributions and any investment 18 returnexperiencethereon. Any employer contributions which 19 are forfeited shall be held in escrow by thefundingcompany 20 investing those contributions and shall be used to reduce the 21 next premium payment due from the employer. 22 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 23 (40 ILCS 5/15-165) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-165) 24 Sec. 15-165. To certify amounts and submit vouchers. 25 (a) The Board shall certify to the Governor on or before 26 November 15 of each year the appropriation required from 27 State funds for the purposes of this System for the following 28 fiscal year. The certification shall include a copy of the 29 actuarial recommendations upon which it is based. 30 (b) The Board shall certify to the State Comptroller or 31 employer, as the case may be, from time to time, by its 32 president and secretary, with its seal attached, the amounts 33 payable to the System from the various funds. -48- LRB9001294EGfg 1 (c) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on or as soon 2 as possible after the 15th day of each month the Board shall 3 submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the 4 System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the 5 required annual State contribution certified under subsection 6 (a). These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller 7 and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to 8 the System for that fiscal year. 9 If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all 10 other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal 11 year (including the appropriations to the System under 12 Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the 13 State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less 14 than the amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, the 15 difference shall be paid from the General Revenue Fund under 16 the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 17 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. 18 (d) So long as the payments received are the full amount 19 lawfully vouchered under this Section, payments received by 20 the System under this Section shall be applied first toward 21 the employer contribution to the optional retirement program 22 established under Section 15-158.2. Payments shall be 23 applied second toward the employer's portion of the normal 24 costs of the System, as defined in subsection (f) of Section 25 15-155. The balance shall be applied toward the unfunded 26 actuarial liabilities of the System. 27 (e) In the event that the System does not receive, as a 28 result of legislative enactment or otherwise, payments 29 sufficient to fully fund the employer contribution to the 30 optional retirement program established under Section 31 15-158.2 and to fully fund that portion of the employer's 32 portion of the normal costs of the System, as calculated in 33 accordance with Section 15-155(a-1), then any payments 34 received shall be applied proportionately to the optional -49- LRB9001294EGfg 1 retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 and to 2 the employer's portion of the normal costs of the System, as 3 calculated in accordance with Section 15-155(a-1). 4 (Source: P.A. 88-593, eff. 8-22-94.) 5 Section 15. The State Pension Funds Continuing 6 Appropriation Act is amended by changing Section 1.1 as 7 follows: 8 (40 ILCS 15/1.1) 9 Sec. 1.1. Appropriations to certain retirement systems. 10 (a) There is hereby appropriated from the General 11 Revenue Fund to the General Assembly Retirement System, on a 12 continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 13 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 14 retirement system for the payment of State contributions is 15 less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State 16 contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for 17 that month under Section 2-134 of the Illinois Pension Code. 18 (b) There is hereby appropriated from the General 19 Revenue Fund to the State Universities Retirement System, on 20 a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 21 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 22 retirement system for the payment of State contributions, 23 including any deficiency in the required contributions of the 24 optional retirement program established under Section 25 15-158.2 of the Illinois Pension Code, is less than the total 26 amount of the vouchers for required State contributions 27 lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month 28 under Section 15-165 of the Illinois Pension Code. 29 (c) There is hereby appropriated from the Common School 30 Fund to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of 31 Illinois, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, 32 by which the total available amount of all other -50- LRB9001294EGfg 1 appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of 2 State contributions is less than the total amount of the 3 vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted 4 by the retirement system for that month under Section 16-158 5 of the Illinois Pension Code. 6 (d) There is hereby appropriated from the General 7 Revenue Fund to the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, on 8 a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 9 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 10 retirement system for the payment of State contributions is 11 less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State 12 contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for 13 that month under Section 18-140 of the Illinois Pension Code. 14 (e) The continuing appropriations provided by this 15 Section shall first be available in State fiscal year 1996. 16 (Source: P.A. 88-593, eff. 8-22-94.) 17 Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act 18 makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by 19 text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a 20 Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that 21 text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) 22 the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from 23 any other Public Act. 24 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 25 becoming law.